PROCEEDINGS 


or  THE 


AMEBICAN  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIOIVERS 


roR 


FOREIGN  MISSIONS, 


SPECIAL  MEETING 


HELD  IN 


THE  CITY  OF   NEW   YORK,  Jan.  18,  19,  and  20th, 
1  8  4  2. 


BOSTON  : 

PRINTED  BY  CROCKER  Sl  BREWSTER, 
47,  WaahiDgtoD-Street. 


1842. 


< 


THE 

PROCEEDINGS 

OF  THE 

AMERICAN  BOARD  OF  COMMISSIONERS 

FOR 

FOREIGN  MISSIONS, 

AT  THE 

SPECIAL  MEETING 

HELD  IN 

THE  CITY  OF   NEW   YORK,  Jan.  18,  19,  and  20th, 
1  842. 


BOSTON  : 

PRINTED    UV   CROCKER  &  BREWSTER, 
■17,  Wasliiiigtou-Slrccl. 

1842. 


Digitized  by 

tine  Internet  Arcliive 

in  2015 

littps://arcliive.org/details/liistoricalsketcliOOamer_0 


MINUTES 


OF  THE 


SPECIAL  MEETING, 


JANUARY  18,  19,  and  20,  1842. 


A  SPECIAL  meeting  of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  for 
Foreign  Missions  was  held  in  the  city  of  New  York,  commencing  on 
Tuesday  the  eighteenth  day  of  January,  1842,  at  4  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  The  sessions  for  business,  and  also  the  meetings  for  devo- 
tional services  and  addresses,  were  held  in  the  Central  Presbyterian 
Church,  in  Broome  Street. 


MEMBERS  PRESENT. 


The  following  Corporate  Members  were  present : — 


Hon.  TiiEOuouK  Freunghuysen,! 
Hon.  TnoMAS  S.  Williams, 
Hon.  Samuel  Huhbard, 
Alexander  Pkouoi  it,  D.  D. 
Gardiner  Sprino,  D.  D. 
Hon.  Samuel  T.  Armstrong, 
Justin  Edwards,  D.  D. 
John  Codman,  D.  D. 
Thomas  DeWitt,  D.  D. 
Joshua  Bates,  D.  D. 
Hknrv  Hill,  Esq. 
CiiARLF.s  Stoddard,  Esq. 
John  Tapi-an,  Esq. 
Thomas  II.  Skinner,  D.  D. 
RuiTs  Andersov,  1).  D. 
Rf'v.  David  (Jreene, 
William  J.  Armstrong,  D.  D. 
Noah  Porter,  D.  D. 


George  E.  Pierce,  D.  D. 
James  M.  Matthews,  D.  D. 
Mark  Tucker,  D.  D. 
Pelatiaii  Perit,  Esq. 
William  W.  Chester,  Esq. 
Richard  T.  Haines,  Esq. 
U.  W.  C.  Olypiiant,  Esq. 
Hon.  Levi  Cutter, 
Rev.  Nehemiah  Adams, 
Rev.  Aluert  Barnes, 
Rev.  Silas  Aiken, 
Rev.  David  Maime, 
Rev.  Horatio  Bardwell, 
Rev.  Z.  S.  Barstow, 
Rev.  Charles  Walker, 
Rev.  WiLi.ARD  Child, 
C.  W.  Rockwell,  Esq. 
Rev.  CuAUNCEY  Eddy. 


4 


MINUTES  OP  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


The  following  Honorary  Members  were  present  : — 


From  JVew  Hampshire  : — 
Rev.  Edwin  Holt,  Portsmouth. 

jFVom  Massachusetts: — 
Rev.  F.  V.  Pike,  Newburyport, 
Rev.  Samuel  Backus,  Palmer, 
Rev.  Seth  Bliss,  Boston, 
Mr.  Daniel  Safford,  Boston, 
Rev.  Gorham  D.  Abbott,  Boston, 
Rev.  Daniel  Crosby,  Charlestown, 
Rev.  Francis  Tracy,  Sunderland, 
Rev.  Samuel  H.  Riddel^  Boston. 

From  Connecticut: — 
Rev.  J.  W.  Alvord,  Stamford, 
Rev.  D.  M.  Seward,  New  Britain, 
Rev.  D.  B.  Butler,  Stanwich, 
Rev.  Janson  Atwater,  Middlebury, 
Rev.  Hollis  Read,  Derby, 
Rev.  Rolin  S.  Stone,  Danbury, 
Rev.  Francis  C.  Woodworth,  Norwalk, 
Rev.  Daniel  C.  Curtis,  Green  Farms, 
Rev.  Theophilus  Smith,  New  Canaan, 
Rev.  Mark  Mead,  Greenwich, 
Rev.  C.  Wilcox,  North  Greenwich, 
Rev.  Orson  Cowles,  North  Haven, 
Rev.  .Tohn  Smith,  Wilton, 
Mr.  Silas  H.  Mead,  North  Greenwich, 
Mr.  Seth  Seelye,  Betlicl, 
Rev.  Noah  Coe,  Greenwich, 
Rev.  Joseph  Eldridge,  Norfolk, 
Rev.  Erastus  I.  Cranston,  Burlington, 
Mr.  Obediah  Mead,  North  Greenwich, 
Rev.  Benjamin  J.  Lane,  Suffield, 

C.  A.  Goodrich,  D.  D.,  New  Haven, 
Mr.  Oliver  G.  Butler,  Norfolk, 
Rev.  J.  P.  Thompson,  New  Haven, 
Rev.  Noah  Porter,  Jr.,  New  Milford, 
Rev.  Piatt  Buflett,  Greenwich, 
Rev.  S.  L.  Hough,  Nortiiford, 

Rev.  Edwin  Hall,  Norwalk, 
Rev.  Joseph  Fuller,  Ridgefield, 
Rev.  Henry  G.  Ludlow,  New  Haven, 
Jonathan  Cogswell,  D.D.,  E.  Windsor, 
Mr.  Thomas  A.  Mead,  Greenwich. 

Fom  JVew  York  : — 
Rev.  Miles  P.  Kquier,  Geneva, 
Rev.  John  Marsh,  New  York  city, 
Rev.  Henry  A.  Rowland,  " 
Rev.  Sanmel  1.  Prime,  " 

D.  C.  Porter,  Esq.  " 
Mr.  A.  I',  ("uuuuings,  " 
Rev.  Samuel  I).  Burchard,  " 
Rev.  Isaac  Lewis,  " 


Rev.  John  J.  Owen,  New  York  city, 
William  Brown,  Esq.  " 
Rev.  George  B.  Cheever,  " 
Rev.  J.  W.  McLane,  " 
Rev.  E.  Van  Aken,  " 
Rev.  William  Adams,  " 
Thatcher  Magoon,  Esq.  " 
D.  H.  Wickham,  Esq.  « 
Rev.  William  A.  Hallock,  « 
Rev.  J.  C.  Brigham,  " 
Rev.  Edwin  F.  Hatfield,  " 
Rev.  Asa  D.  Smith,  " 
Jasper  Corning,  Esq.  " 
Absalom  Peters,  D.  D.  " 
William  Patton,  D.  D.  " 
Rev.  Samuel  Whittelsey,  " 
Mr.  Luther  Jackson,  " 
Rev.  James  H.  Thomas,  " 
Rev.  William  McLaren,  " 
Rev.  G.  Barrett,  " 
Rev.  E.  W.  Andrews,  " 
Francke  Williams,  M.  D.  " 
Rev.  O.  Eastman,  " 
Rev.  S.  B.  Treat,  " 
Rev.  William  Bradford,  " 
Joel  Parker,  D.  D.  ". 
Rev.  Charles  Hall,  " 
Edward  Robinson,  D.  D.  " 
Rev.  Edward  N.  Kirk,  " 
Rev.  Cyrus  Mason,  " 
Rev.  Mason  Noble,  " 
Rev.  James  Knox,  " 
Rev.  Milton  Badger,  " 
Mr.  W.  R.  Johnson,  » 
Mr.  Charles  Butler, 
Rev.  R.  S.  Cook,  " 
Horace  Holden,  Esq.  " 
William  G.  Lambert,  Esq.  " 
Rev.  John  Forsyth,  Jr.,  Newburgh, 
Rev.  10.  J).  (J.  I'rime,  Scotchtown, 
Rev.  Ward  Stafibrd,  Brooklyn, 
Abijah  Fisher,  Esq.  " 
Rev.  W.  H.  Bidwell,  " 
Samuel  H.  Cox,  D.  D.  " 
Rev.  J.  M.  Rowland,  " 
Rev.  Walter  R.  Long,  West  Troy, 
Rev.  J.  W.  Aliicdonuld,  Jamaica, 
Mr.  Simeon  JJenjumin,  Ehnira, 
Rev.  O.  M.  Johnson,  Denton. 

From  Af  »•  Jsrsei/ : — 
Rev.  Wm.  Ikadlcy,  New  BrunsVick, 
Rev.  R.  Street,  C'oimccticut  Farnis, 
Rev.  A.  H.  Dumont,  Morristown, 
Rev.  Ransford  Wells,  Newark, 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


5 


Rev.  Saml.  W.  Fisher,  W.  Bloomfield, 
Rev.  James  M.  Huntinor,  WestCeld, 
Rev.  Win.  R.  S.  Belts,  Mount  Holly, 
L.  A.  Smith,  M.  D.,  Newark, 
Samuel  Fisher,  D.  D.,  W.  Bloomfield, 
Rev.  Horatio  N.  Brinsmade,  Newark, 
Rev.  Ebenezer  Cheever,  Newark,  I 
Rev.  A.  D.  Eddy,  Newark, 
Rev.  William  C.  White,  Orange, 
Mr.  Benjamin  N.  Martin, 
Rev.  E.  Seymour,  Bloomfield, 
Rev.  Orlando  Kirtland,  Morristown, 
Rev.  C.  Hoover,  Newark, 
Rev.  J.  S.  Gallagher,  Orange, 
Peter  A.  Johnson,  Esq.,  Morristown, 
Rev.  H.  N.  Pohlman,  N.  Germantown, 


Mr.  John  Taylor,  Newark, 
iMr.  James  Crane,  Elizabethtown, 
Mr.  Charles  Davis,  " 
Rev.  Lewis  Bond,  Plainfield, 
Rev.  John  Ford,  Parsippany, 
Rev.  J.  C.  Hart,  Springfield, 
Rev.  Ethan  Smith,  Newark, 
Rev.  C.  S.  Arms,  Madison. 

From  Pennsylvania : — 
Rev.  Eliakim  Phelps,  Philadelphia, 
Professor  J.  H.  Agnew,  " 
Rev.  T.  T.  Waterman,  " 
Rev.  Thomas  Brainard,  " 
Rev.  A.  Converse,  " 


There  were  also  present  the  following  Missionaries  of  the  Board, 
viz.  : 

Rev.  Justin  Perkins,  Ooroomiah,  Persia. 

Rev.  Hirarn  Bingham,  Sandwich  Islands. 

Peter  Parker,  M.  D.,  Canton,  China. 

Mr.  Homan  Hallock,  Assistant  Missionary,  Smyrna. 

Mso,  Mar  Yohannan,  a  Nestorian  Bishop  from  Ooroomiah,  Persia. 

0RGANI7.ATI0N. 


The  President,  the  Hon.  Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  took  the  chair  ; 
and  at  his  request,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Codman  opened  the  meeting  with 
prayer. 

A  letter  from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Chapin,  the  Recording  Secretary,  was 
read,  stating  that  in  consequence  of  ill  health  he  was  unable  to  attend 
the  meeting  :  whereupon  the  Rev.  Daniel  Crosby  of  Cliarlestovvn, 
Mass.,  was  appointed  Recording  Secretary  for  the  meeting,  and  the 
Rev.  Edwin  liolt  of  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  was  appointed  Assistant  Re- 
cording Secretary. 

The  Rev.  William  Adams,  Rev.  Dr.  Ferris,  Rev.  David  Magie, 
lion.  Samuel  Hubbard,  and  Pelatiah  Perit,  Esq.,  were  appointed  a 
Committee  of  Arrangements. 

Letters  from  the  following  members  of  the  Board,  not  able  to  be 
present,  were  laid  before  the  meeting,  expressive  of  their  lively  in- 
terest in  its  objects  and  proceedings  : — 


From  Maine : — 
Gen.  Henry  Sewall, 
Enoch  Pond,  I).  D. 
Benjamin  Tappan,  D.  D. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Ellingwood. 

From  JVew  Hampshire  . 
Rev.  Aaron  Warner. 

From  Vermont: — 
Hon.  Charles  Marsh, 


E.  W.  Hooker,  D.  D. 
John  Wheeler,  D.  D. 
William  Page,  Esq. 

From  Massnchusetis : — 
Hon.  Lowi.s  Strong, 
Leonard  Woods,  I).  D. 
Heman  Humphrev,  D.  D. 
Daniel  Dana,  D.  1). 
Mark  Hopkins,  D.  D. 
William  Allen,  D.  D. 


6 


MINUTES  OF  THE   SPECIAL  MEETING. 


Alfred  Ely,  D.  D. 
Hon.  David  Mack,  Jr. 

From  Connecticut : — 
John  T.  Norton,  Esq. 
Hon.  Setli  Teny, 
Jeremiah  Day,  D.  D. 

From  JVetv  Yoi'k  : — 
Eliphalet  Wickes,  Esq. 
Orrin  Day,  Esq. 
Elisha  Yale,  D.  D. 
Diedrich  Willers,  D.  D. 
Henry  Davis,  D.  D. 
Hon.  Reuben  H.  Walworth, 
David  H.  Little,  Esq. 
H.  H.  Seelye,  Esq. 
N.  W.  Howell,  LL.  D. 
Nathan  S.  S.  Beman,  D.  D. 
Thomas  McAuley,  D.  D., 


From  JVew  Jersey  : — 
Hon.  J.  C.  Hornblower. 

From  Pennsylvania : — 
John  W.  Nevin,  D.  D. 
David  H.  Riddle,  D.  D. 
William  Neil,  D.  D. 

District  of  Columbia : — 
B.  M.  Palmer,  D.  D. 

IVom  South  Carolina : — 
Reuben  Post,  D.  D. 

-F/'Offi  Tennessee : — 
Charles  Coffin,  D.  D. 

F-om  Missouri : — 
Rev.  Artemas  BuUard. 


Dr.  Anderson,  in  behalf  of  the  Prudential  Committee,  made  a  state- 
ment of  the  business  which  that  Committee  had  to  lay  before  the 
Board. 


CIRCUMSTANCES   WHICH   LED  TO  THE   APPOINTMENT  OF  THIS 
MEETING. 

The  following  paper  was  read  by  Mr.  Greene. — 

As  this  is  the  first  special  meeting  held  by  the  Board  durinjf  the  thirty-two 
years  which  have  elapsed  since  its  organization,  it  seems  proper,  before  en- 
tering on  its  business,  to  advert  to  the  peculiar  crisis  of  affairs  which  induced 
the  Board  to  appoint  it. 

The  Prudential  Committee  went  to  the  last  annual  meeting  to  report  a 
heavier  debt  tlian  had  ever  before  embarrassed  the  treasury  ;  to  state  that 
many  of  the  missions  were  painfully  cramped  in  their  operations  by  inade- 
quate pecuniary  allowances,  while  the  openings  for  greatly  extended  labors 
■were  more  wide  and  favorable,  and  the  calls  to  an  onward  movement  more 
urgent  than  at  any  former  period.  Tiiey  also  stated  that  while  they  had,  in 
conducting  the  aflairs  of  the  missions,  kept  within  the  instructions  given  them 
by  the  Board,  at  each  annual  meeting  for  five  years  past,  the  indebtedness  of 
the  Board  had  been  steaddy  increasing  \  and  should  the  income  for  the  year 
then  ensuing  be  no  greater  than  it  was  the  last,  while  the  missions  should  go 
forward  as  they  were  then  going,  the  debt  at  the  next  annual  meeting  would 
scarcely  be  less  than  ,1100,000.  They  said  also  that  they  could  not  assume 
the  responsibility  of  plunging  the  Board  into  debt  to  such  an  amount,  while 
to  reduce  the  missions  by  curtailment,  or  even  to  keep  their  expenditures 
■within  their  present  limits,  when  the  providence  and  S[)iritof  God  seemed  so 
clearly  to  call  for  an  advance,  was  not  less  painful  and  embarrassing.  Nor 
could  they  think  that  the  instructions  whicii  the  Board  might  give  them,  nor 
the  exhortations  which,  in  the  form  of  resolutions,  it  might  scud  forth  to  the 
churches,  furnished  a  sufficient  guaranty  for  their  going  forward  in  the. pres- 
ent emergency,  v/hen  similar  measures  had  failed  to  accomplish  the  desired 
object  for  so  many  years  preceding. 

Seeing  the  exigency  into  which  the  Board  and  its  missions  were  brought, 
and  the  necessity  of  doing  something  which  might  be  regarded  as  a  basis,  as 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


7 


substantial  as  the  circumstances  would  admit  of,  on  which  the  amount  of  do- 
nations to  the  treasury  for  the  ensuinir  year  might  be  estimated,  the  members 
then  present,  on  motion  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Edwards,  came  forward,  and  with  al- 
most perfect  unanimity,  pledged  themselves  individually  to  increase  their 
own  subscriptions  at  least  one  quarter  above  what  they  were  last  year,  and 
to  use  their  influence  to  induce  others  to  do  the  same.  In  doing  this,  they 
simply  stated  what  they  might  be  relied  on  to  do  in  the  way  of  contribution 
and  influence  ;  from  which  might  be  inferred  what  the  christian  community, 
whom  they  represented,  might,  in  view  of  the  same  considerations,  be  expect- 
ed to  do. 

If  the  contributions  from  all  parts  of  the  country  could,  on  an  average,  be 
increased  one  quarter  above  what  they  were  last  year,  it  was  estimated  that 
the  missions  could  be  sustained  on  their  present  scale,  and  the  debt  reduced 
nearly  one  half  during  the  year  then  ensuing. 

Still,  as  the  measures  about  to  be  adopted  had  never  before  been  resorted 
to,  and  it  could  not  be  certainly  foreseen  how  the  friends  of  missions  would 
respond  to  the  proposal  which  was  to  be  made,  the  Committee  thought  they 
ought  not  to  bear  the  responsibility  of  conducting  the  affairs  of  the  missions 
in  this  emergency  without  having  an  early  opportunity  of  conferring  with  the 
Board,  in  case  the  result  of  these  measures  should  be  unfavorable.  The 
Committee  therefore  proposed  that  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  should  be 
held  within  six  months,  unless  previous  notice  should  be  given  by  the  presi- 
dent that  the  treasury  was  so  far  relieved  as  to  render  such  a  meeting  un- 
necessary. Subsequently,  on  motion  of  some  other  member  of  the  Board,  the 
motion  for  the  meeting  was  amended,  by  striking  out  the  condition  proposed 
by  the  Committee,  and  leaving  the  appointment  of  the  meeting  absolute.  In 
this  form  the  motion  was  carried,  it  is  believed,  unanimously. 

In  the  manner  now  described,  the  responsibility  of  calling  this  meeting  was 
taken  from  the  Committee  and  assumed  by  the  Board,  in  view  of  the  emer- 
gency then  existing ;  and  under  these  circumstances  we  are  now  convened. 

Those  here  present,  who  attended  the  late  anniversary  in  Philadelphia, 
will  remember  what  painful  anxiety  pervaded  most  of  the  deliberations  of 
that  meeting  ;  and  that,  though  at  its  close  some  rays  of  light  broke  in,  which 
caused  the  hopes  of  the  Board  to  prevail  over  their  forebodings,  yet,  as  the 
results  of  the  appeal  then  to  be  made  could  not  be  foreseen,  it  was  impossible 
that  the  developements  of  the  successive  months  should  not  be  watched  with 
great  solicitude.  And  this  solicitude  would  have  been  far  greater,  had  not 
the  indications  of  the  presence  of  the  Spirit  of  God  inspired  the  belief,  that 
the  closing  movements  of  that  meeting  were  guided  by  his  wisdom,  and  that 
he  would  conduct  them  to  a  favorable  issue. 

So  far  as  there  has  been  opportunity  for  those  measures  to  be  carried  into 
effect,  and  the  results  have  appeared,  the  most  encouraging  anticipations 
which  could  have  been  entertained  have  been  surpassed  ;  both  in  respect  to 
the  amount  of  contributions  received,  and  to  the  degree  of  interest  in  the 
missionary  work,  and  of  confidence  in  the  Board,  which  have  been  manifested. 
The  anxiety  and  fear  felt  at  the  annual  meeting  have,  therefore,  so  far  as  the 
indebtedness  of  the  Board  and  the  carrying  forward  the  missions  through  the 
current  year  are  concerned,  been,  to  a  great  extent,  removed,  and  in  this  view 
of  the  subject,  the  present  meeting  must  be  one  of  thanksgiving  and  praise. 

But  the  indebtedness,  embarrassing  as  it  was  and  injurious  to  the  charac- 
ter of  the  Board,  was  not  the  only  cause  of  the  anxiety  and  deep  feeling  man- 
ifested at  the  annual  meeting.  Taking  into  view  the  destinies  of  the  une- 
vangelized  nations,  and  their  present  aspect  and  condition,  it  was  then  and 
remains  still  a  momentous  question,  whether  this  Board  and  the  cliristian  com- 
munity co-operating  with  it  are  to  prosecute  the  missionary  work  on  the  pre- 
sent limited  scale  ;  or  whether  they  are  to  go  steadily  forward,  giving  greater 
extent  and  efficiency  to  their  operations  from  year  to  year,  as  the  providence 
of  God  shall  open  the  way,  until  Christ  shall  be  preached  to  all  nations.  The 


8 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


debt  of  the  treasury,  continued  through  so  many  years,  swelling  to  such  an 
amount,  and  regarded  as  an  indication  that  the  missionary  feeling  was  not 
strong  enough  to  carry  forward  the  present  operations  of  the  Board,  was  suf- 
ficient cause  for  grief  and  alarm.  But  this  debt,  great  as  it  was,  might  be 
liquidated  by  a  single  extra  effort.  Yet  by  such  an  effort,  however  success- 
ful, how  little  would  the  Board  accomplish  as  a  missionary  society.  How 
little  would  be  gained,  unless  the  means  could  be  secured  of  going  forward 
on  a  scale  more  commensurate  witli  the  magnitude  and  urgent  nature  of  the 
work.  An  effort  to  liquidate  the  debt  was  needed  ;  but  the  question  really 
the  most  important  tlien  and  now  is,  What  measures  shall  be  devised  and  what 
foundation  shall  be  laid  for  a  more  extended  and  a  more  effective  movement 
for  the  conversion  of  the  icorld  to  Christ This  is  a  question  which,  taking 
into  view  the  present  indications  of  divine  providence,  as  seen  in  the  open- 
ings in  the  heathen  world  and  the  facilities  for  spreading  the  gospel,  calls  for 
most  prayerful  and  solemn  consideration  at  tliis  time.  Perhaps  we  ought  to 
estimate  anew  the  magnitude  of  the  work,  count  again  the  cost,  review  the 
principles  on  which,  and  the  extent  to  which,  we  have  consecrated  ourselves 
to  it,  trace  the  progress  already  made,  and  examine  again  when  and  how  it  is 
to  be  fully  accomplished. 

STATEMENTS   RELATIVE  TO  THE   RESPONSES   RECEIVED  TO  THE 
CIRCULAR  OF  THE  BOARD. 

The  paper  which  follows  was  also  read  by  Mr.  Greene. — 

With  little  delay,  afler  the  Annual  Meeting,  in  conformity  with  a  vote  then 
passed,  the  Prudential  Committee  prepared  a  circular  letter,  to  be  sent,  in  the 
name  of  the  Board,  to  all  the  corporate  and  honorary  members  not  present  at 
that  meeting,  informing  them  briefly  of  the  emergency  into  which  the  Board 
and  its  missions  were  brought ;  what,  in  view  of  this  emergency,  had  been 
done  by  the  members  present  at  the  meeting,  and  proposing  to  the  absent 
members  the  sam.e  three  questions  that  were  proposed  to  those  who  were 
present,  and  requesting  them  to  return  answers  before  the  present  meeting. 
To  this  circular  were  appended  the  names  of  all  who  replied  to  the  questions 
at  the  annual  meeting,  with  their  several  answers. 

Of  this  circular,  the  Committee  sent  forth  about  2,900  copies;  refraining 
from  addressing  any  to  those,  so  far  as  they  knew  them,  who  had,  by  becom- 
ing connected  with  other  missionary  societies,  virtually  ceased  to  be  active 
members  of  this  Board. 

At  the  annual  meeting  it  was  suggested  that  another  letter  should  be  ad- 
dressed to  the  pastors  of  ail  the  churches  that  co-operate  with  the  Board  ; 
and  tlie  expediency  of  doing  this  was  referred  to  the  Prudential  Committee. 
After  considering  the  subject,  it  was  thought  that,  as  a  large  proportion  of 
those  pastors  are  either  corporate  or  honorary  members  of  the  Board,  and  as 
the  movement  commenced  at  the  annual  meeting  was  especially  appropriate 
to  tliose  standing  in  tliat  relation, — it  was  not  advisable  to  make  any  formal 
address  to  other  pastors.  This  seemed  to  be  the  less  called  for,  as  the  state- 
ment laid  before  the  Board  at  the  meeting,  witli  all  the  proceedings  on  that 
occasion  were  going  abroad  so  widely  in  the  religious  papers.  With  the 
hope,  however,  of  placing  this  information  before  many  friends  of  missions 
whom  it  might  not  reach  through  tlie  ordinary  channels,  .WjOOO  copies  of  the 
Dayspring,  containing  an  abridged  report  of  the  meeting,  were  sent  forth. 

To  the  circular  letter  just  referred  to,  'ilKi  answers  have  been  received. 
From  ministers  there  are  218,  from  laymen  70.  To  shew  how  far  these  re- 
sponses indicate  the  state  of  missionary  feeling  over  the  country  at  large,  it 
may  be  proper  to  mention  that  there  are  from  Maine  27;  from  New  Hamp- 
Bhire  30  ;  from  Vermont  27 ;  from  Massachusetts  9fi  ;  from  Rhode  Island  3  ; 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


9 


from  Connecticut  28  ;  from  New  York  62;  from  New  Jersey  6;  from  Penn-, 
sylvania  2 ;  from  Virginia  2 ;  from  Tennessee  2 ;  from  South  Carolina  1 ; 
from  Louisiana,  1  ;  from  Missouri  1 ;  from  Michigan  3 ;  from  Wisconsin 
Territory  2  ;  from  Georgia  1 ;  and  Indiana  1. 

Besides  these  responses  which  have  been  forwarded  to  the  Committee  by 
individual  members  of  the  Board,  there  has  been  a  more  informal,  though 
perhaps  not  less  hearty  response  made  probably  by  an  equal  or  greater  num- 
ber of  both  ministers  and  laymen  at  the  meetings  of  ecclesiastical  bodies  and 
auxiliary  societies  ;  embracing  one  Synod  and  some  Presbyteries  and  Asso- 
ciations in  the  State  of  New  York,  some  in  the  States  of  New  Hampshire 
and  Maine,  by  the  members  of  which  the  first  two  of  the  three  ques- 
tions proposed  at  the  Annual  Meeting  were  answered  with  great  unanimity. 
At  the  annual  meetings  of  nearly  all  the  auxiliary  societies,  in  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  eight  or  ten  in  Massachusetts,  and  nearly  all  those  in  Vermont 
and  of  some  in  other  States,  embracing  nearly  all  the  auxiliary  meetings 
held  since  the  anniversary  of  the  Board,  the  questions  just  alluded  to  were 
put  and  affirmatively  responded  to  with  great  promptness  and  unanimity  by 
those  present.  These  proceedings  have  been  reported  by  agents  or  other 
delegates  who  attended  the  meetings  on  behalf  of  the  Board,  and  probably 
the  members  of  the  Board  then  present  regarded  them  as  a  substitute  for 
more  formal  responses. 

It  should  be  added  also,  that,  from  the  reports  received,  it  appears  that 
these  meetings  of  auxiliary  societies  have  been  attended  by  unusually  large 
numbers  of  the  ministers  and  others  connected  with  them  ;  in  many  instances 
nearly  every  minister  being  present. 

Adding  the  responses  thus  made  to  those  more  formal  ones  sent  to  the 
Committee,  the  whole  number  will  not  probably  fall  short  of  six  hundred. 

In  addition  to  the  replies  to  the  circular  letter,  received  from  members  of 
the  Board,  it  should  be  mentioned  that  other  friends,  not  members  of  the 
Board,  in  view  of  the  existing  emergency,  have  written,  expressing  their 
confidence  in  the  Board,  and  pledging  their  continued  and  increasing  contri- 
butions, as  well  as  their  influence  in  securing  the  co-operation  of  others. 

As  the  character  of  the  responses  to  the  circular  letter,  especially  when 
containing,  as  a  large  part  of  them  have  dene,  accounts  of  greatly  augmented 
contributions,  have  deeply  interested  the  Committee,  and  encouraged  them 
in  their  work,  they  could  wish  that  they  might  all  be  laid  before  this  meet- 
ing. But  as  the  tiine  at  command  will  not  admit  of  this,  it  is  proposed  to 
advert  briefly  to  a  few  points  on  which  these  responses  give  occasion  to  re- 
mark. Afterwards  it  may  be  deemed  expedient  to  read  short  extracts  from 
some  of  them. 

It  may  be  proper  to  notice 

1.  The  full  and  hearty  approbation  expressed  by  the  writers  of  the  course 
adopted  by  the  Board  at  the  annual  meeting,  and  their  readiness  to  join  in 
the  pledge  then  given,  to  make  increased  exertions  to  carry  forward  the  mis- 
sionary work.  A  large  portion  of  the  writers  take  pains,  as  with  one  mind, 
and  almost  in  the  same  language,  to  state  explicitly  their  unqualified  apj)rov- 
al  of  those  proceedings,  while  others  do  it  no  less  decidedly,  though  less 
formally.  Not  an  individual,  either  by  letter  or  in  the  meetings  of  auxilia- 
ries or  ecclesiastical  bodies,  so  far  as  the  Committee  are  inforniod,  Ims  ex- 
pressed any  disap[)robation,  or  any  unwillingness  to  fall  in  with  and  carry  out 
the  plan.  Some  few  have  declined  binding  tiiemselves  by  any  pkdi^e,  who 
at  the  sauio  time  have  not  fallen  at  all  beiiind  Uieir  brethren  in  their  hearty 
and  successful  exertions  to  ac(;ouii)lish  the  object  aimed  at.  So  far  as  the 
Committee  know,  tiie  circular  has  every  where  been  u)()st  kindly  received. 

2.  These  responses  indicate  a  now  devclopeinent  of  the  missionary  spirit, 
stronger  in  its  acting.'^,  and  more  widely  [)revalent  than  lias  heretofore  been 
maiiift'sted.  It  would  seem  that  the  friends  of  missions  are  more  disposed 
than  heretofore  to  appropriate  tlio  missionary  work  to  tiiemselves,  as  their 

2 


10 


MINDTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING, 


own  work,  in  which,  as  Christians,  they  have  a  personal  interest,  and  for 
which  they  are,  to  the  extent  of  their  ability  and  influence,  responsible. 
There  seems  to  be  that  kind  of  interest  and  zeal,  which  makes  them  willingf 
to  incur  labor  and  self-denial,  and  actually  to  make  sacrifices  to  promote  the 
cause ;  and  which  fills  them  with  pain  and  grief  when  its  progress  is  embar- 
rassed or  hindered.  The  proceedings  at  the  annual  meeting,  as  published  in 
the  religious  papers,  have  been  road  in  place  of  a  sermon  on  tiie  Sabbath, 
and  at  the  Monthly  Concert  of  prayer,  and  the  deep  feeling  awakened  in 
ministers  and  churches  by  the  narrative,  and  the  results  which  have  followed, 
clearly  show  this.  Similar  effects  have  followed  statements  made  respecting 
those  proceedings  by  agents  in  their  visits  to  cliurches  and  auxiliary  societies. 
There  appears  to  be  more  than  heretofore,  though  far  less  than  there  should 
be,  a  feeling  that  this  work  is  enjoined  by  tlie  Lord  Jesus  ;  and  that  earnest 
and  vigorous  co-operation  in  it  is  essential  to  Christian  character  and  disci- 
pleship. 

3.  The  responses  to  the  circular  shew  that  there  is  widely  prevalent  a 
confidence  in  the  ability  and  duty  of  the  Christian  community  to  go  forward 
in  the  missionary  work  on  a  more  enlarged  scale,  and  with  more  energy  and 
despatch,  than  heretofore.  Not  more  tlian  two  or  three  of  tlie  writers  have 
expressed  any  doubts  that  the  christian  community  were  ready  and  willing 
to  make  a  steady  advance  in  this  great  enterprise,  as  God  shall  open  the  way 
and  grant  them  ability,  until  the  blessings  of  Christianity  shall  be  eixperienc- 
ed  by  all  the  nations. 

4.  The  responses  develope  the  practicability  of  a  powerful  pastoral  influ- 
ence being  exerted  in  this  cause,  and  show  ihc  value  of  it.  This  movement 
has  shown  more  clearly  than  has  ever  been  done  before,  to  how  great  an  ex- 
tent the  services  of  agents  can  be  dispensed  with,  whenever  the  pastors,  hav- 
ing their  souls  stirred  with  compassion  for  the  heathen,  shall  enter  unitedly 
and  vigorously  into  the  work.  The  number  of  sermons  preached  by  them  at 
this  crisis,  in  bringing  the  cause  before  their  respective  churches,  the  resolu- 
tions formed  by  many  to  preach  slated  sermons  monthly  or  at  other  regular 
periods,  their  visitation  of  other  churches  on  the  same  errand,  their  labors  as 
collectors,  and  in  their  personal  application  to  men  of  wealth,  and  in  many 
other  ways,  all  show  that  pastors  may  exert  a  most  efficient  and  salutary  in- 
fluence in  promoting  the  missionary  work;  and  show  also  that  they  are  in  a 
good  measure  prepared  for  it. 

5.  Among  laymen,  also,  there  has  been,  as  shown  by  these  responses,  a 
Bimilar  manifestation  of  unusually  deep  interest  in  the  missionary  work. 
Men  of  the  very  first  character  and  standing  among  their  fellow  citizens, 
have  publicly  and  earnestly  advocated  the  cause,  have  taken  on  tliotnselves 
the  labor  of  collectors,  have  been  active  in  disseminating  missionary  intel- 
ligence, have  greatly  increased  their  own  contributions,  and  in  various  other 
ways  have  expressed  that  warm  interest  in  this  enterprise,  that  energy,  and 
those  enlarged  views  in  regard  to  it,  so  characteristic  of  business  men,  and 
Avhich  afford  so  much  encouragement  and  promise. 

6.  In  these  responses  many  facts  have  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
Committee  showing  the  need  of  n  wider  dissrmijinli'in  of  rnix.tionari/  inletti- 
frence,  as  one  of  the  essential  means  of  sustaining  and  extending  the  mission- 
ary spirit.  No  permament  interest  in  this  work  can  be  awakened,  no  great 
self-denial  or  effort,  no  liberal  system  of  contributions  can  be  carried  forward, 
among  the  great  body  of  the  comuuinity,  without  this. 

7.  The  responses  indicate  uunbalcd  confidence  in  the  Board.  The  un- 
qualified expressions  of  this  coufKlence,  contained  in  every  answer  received 
to  the  circular,  and  in  the  proceedings  of  ecclesiastical  iiodies,  auxiliary -eoci- 
cties,  and  churches,  call  upon  the  lioard  for  (lc\out  tliaiik><;iv  ing  and  praise  to 
God,  that  in  a  work  so  complicated,  and  conducted  through  so  many  embar- 
rassments, they  should  have  been  enabled  to  ac(|uit  themselves  in  a  manner 
to  secure  so  uniformly  and  fur  so  long  a  time,  the  approbation  of  Uieir 
brethieu. 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


11 


A  single  point  more  will  be  remarked  upon. 

8.  From  the  contents  of  the  responses  to  the  circular,  it  is  obvious,  that 
so  far  as  preparation  for  the  work  in  the  minds  of  the  christian  community  is 
concerned,  most  encouraging  progress  has  been  made  in  the  missionary  en- 
terprise. If  it  can  be  supposed  that  the  Board,  during  any  one  of  the  first 
five  years  of  its  existence,  in  no  one  of  which  did  its  annual  income  scarcely 
equal  the  amount  of  its  smallest  monthly  receipts  during  the  last  five,  had 
found  its  treasury  indebted  to  the  amount  of  nearly  S()0,000,  what  possible 
prospect  could  it  have  had  of  liquidating  that  debt,  or  moving  onward  in  its 
work  ?  What  knowledge  was  there  then  abroad  in  the  community  respect- 
ing the  heathen  nations, — what  conception  was  there  in  the  minds  of  men 
of  tlie  greatness  and  urgency  of  the  work  of  their  conversion,  or  of  the  prac- 
ticability and  duty  of  accomi)]ishing  it, — where  was  tliere  a  feeling  of  per- 
sonal interest  in  tiie  missionary  work,  and  of  responsibility  to  labor  zealously 
to  obey  the  last  command  of  Christ  to  carry  the  gospel  to  every  creature — on 
which  an  appeal  from  this  Board  could  have  operated  successfully  ? — Wheie 
w-ere  then  the  agencies,  the  organizations,  the  widely-distributed  publications, 
tlie  pastors  well-informed  and  zealous  in  this  work  to  act  in  the  churches? — 
Where  were  the  retrenclmient,  the  self-denial  and  sacrifice,  the  systematic 
and  well-established  habits  of  giving? — where  were  the  contributors  of 
hundreds  and  thousands  of  dollars,  and  the  countless  multitudes  who  brought 
their  smaller  offerings,  by  means  of  which  such  a  deficiency  could  have  been 
made  up, — where  was  the  spirit  of  prayer  for  the  world's  conversion,  assem- 
bling ahnost  every  church  in  the  land  on  the  first  Monday  of  each  month, — 
where  was  the  warm  language,  of  sympathy  and  support  which,  on  any 
emergency  would  break  forth  from  thousands  of  hearts, — and  where  was  the 
church's  earnest  desire  and  looking  for  the  world's  redemption — whicii  now  so 
much  encourage  our  labors  ?  Not  but  that  there  were  men  then  engaged  in 
this  holy  enterprise  whose  devoledness  and  zeal  have  not  been  surpassed — 
those  pioneers  whose  wisdom  and  energy,  under  God,  gave  to  this  work  a 
direction  and  an  impulse,  the  results  of  which  we  delight  gratefully  to  recog- 
nize. Not  that  the  christian  community  at  this  day  have  that  burning  desire 
that  God's  being  and  character  should  be  known  by  all  men; — that  control- 
ing  regard  to  the  command  of  the  Savior,  or  that  soul-stirring  compassion  for 
the  heathen,  which  ought  to  fill  every  christian  breast.  Not  that  there  is  in 
this  day,  that  hearty  pouring  forth  of  prayer,  and  labor,  and  treasure  for  the 
conversion  of  the  world  to  Christ  which  the  exigency  demands.  Very  far 
from  it.  In  this  respect  we  have  nothing  to  boast  of  Rather,  considering 
the  light  which  has  been  shed  on  this  subject,  the  extent  to  which  the  prom- 
ises of  God  have  been  fulfilled  for  our  encouragement,  and  the  ampler  means 
placed  at  our  disposal,  we  have  reason  for  deep  humiliation.  Still,  in  all 
these  respects,  we  cannot  but  see  that  great  progress  has  been  made.  In  the 
year  1827,  and  again  in  1828,  the  Prudential  Committee,  in  addresses  to  the 
friends  of  missions,  stated  that  tlie  operations  of  the  Board  could  not  be  well 
sustained  unless  the  average  receipts  should  bo  810,000  a  month.  It  scorned 
then  more  as  if  the  Committee  were  asking  for  what  they  could  not  hope  to 
realize,  than  it  would  now  if  they  wore  to  ask  for  .*:iO,000  a  month.  Indeed, 
it  was  not  until  the  year  18^{2, — five  years  afterwards — that  the  average 
monthly  receipts  rose  to  $10,000. 

In  the  review  of  the  past  growth  of  missionary  zeal  and  enterprise  and  lib- 
erality, the  survey  of  the  present  deepening  and  extending  interest  in  this 
work  throughout  our  community,  arul  in  the  smiles  of  God  upon  the  endeavors 
of  this  Hoard  at  homo  and  aliroad,  liave  we  not  abundant  reason  to  thank  the 
CJreat  Head  of  the  ("hurch  for  what  has  already  been  accotn|)lislic(l,  and  enter 
with  new  zeal  and  confidence  on  the  career  which  is  opening  before  us  ? 


12 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


After  the  reading  of  the  foregoing  document  was  closed,  extracts 
from  the  responses  were  read,  illustrating  the  statements  which  had 
just  been  made. 

In  confirmation  of  the  same  statements,  the  treasurer  of  the  Board, 
Henry  Hill,  Esq.,  gave  a  brief  view  of  the  receipts  and  disbursements 
since  the  annual  meeting  in  September,  showing  that  the  indebted- 
ness of  the  treasury  had  been  reduced  from  more  than  $57,000  to 
about  820,000. 

Statements  were  also  made  by  pastors  and  others,  relative  to  the 
increase  of  interest  in  the  missionary  work,  in  the  churches  and  aux- 
iliaries with  which  they  were  severally  connected. 

On  the  circular  addressed  to  the  members  of  the  Board  and  the  re- 
sponses to  the  same,  the  Rev.  Drs.  Bates,  Spring,  Codman,  and 
Proudfit,  Rev.  Messrs.  Seth  Bliss  and  S.  D.  Burchard,  and  P.  Perit, 
Esq.,  were  appointed  a  committee.  They  subsequently  reported,  re- 
commending that  the  document  from  the  Prudential  Committee  be 
printed  and  circulated  ;  which  was  adopted. 

RESOLUTIONS  PROPOSING  SPECIAL  THANKSGIVING  AND  PRATER. 

On  behalf  of  the  Chairman  of  the  Prudential  Committee,  Dr.  An- 
derson offered  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  : 

In  view  of  the  goodness  of  God  towards  this  Board  at-their  Annual  Meet- 
ing in  September  last,  in  leading  the  minds  of  its  members  to  pledge  them- 
selves to  sustain  the  missionary  cause  and  to  use  their  influence  to  engage 
the  christian  community  to  increase  their  subscriptions,  as  well  for  the  re- 
duction of  the  debt  of  the  Board,  as  for  the  sustaining  of  its  missions,  and  in 
view  of  the  signal  answer,  which  has  been  made  to  this  call,  by  which  en- 
couragement is  given,  that,  if  the  friends  of  the  Redeemer  shall  continue  their 
efforts  as  tliey  have  begun,  the  Board  will  not  only  be  relieved  from  its  pecu- 
niary embarrassments,  but  the  means  will  be  supplied  for  its  future  progress; 

Therefore,  Resolved,  That  we  recognise,  in  this  action  of  the  christian  com- 
munity, the  answer  of  the  Lord  to  the  prayers  of  his  people,  and  in  expres- 
sion of  our  gratitude  to  Him,  we  will  observe  the  afternoon  and  evening  of 
Wednesday  as  a  special  season  of  thanksgiving  and  praise,  for  His  distin- 
guished kindness  to  this  Board ;  and  of  prayer  for  the  out-pouring  of  His 
Spirit  upon  the  churches  at  home,  and  at  the  missionary  stations. 

And  believing  that  the  great  cause  of  missions  cannot  permanently  prosper 
wiihout  continued  additions  to  our  churches  of  faithful  and  devoted  members, 
and  of  young  men  for  missionaries,  therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  respectfully  suggest  to  the  pastors  tlie  expedien- 
cy of  recommending  to  the  churches  that  the  monthly  concert  of  February 
next  be  observed  by  the  churches  of  Christ  connected  with  this  Board,  and 
its  friends  at  large,  as  a  season  of  special  prayer,  for  the  immediate  revival 
of  religion  in  all  our  churches  at  home  and  abroad,  so  that  the  friends  and 
followers  of  the  Redeemer  may  be  greatly  multiplied,  and  the  cause  of 
christian  benevolence  advanced. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  members  of  the  several  churches, 
to  make  constant  remembrance  of  this  concert  in  their  prayers,  and  to  seek 
for  preparation  of  heart  for  the  receiving  of  God's  blessing  in  answer  to'  the 
supplications  of  that  day,  in  tiie  full  belief,  that  as  the  Lord  has  shown  us  his 
favor  as  tu  our  temporal  necessities,  he  will  also  confer  on  us  and  them  still 
greater  spiritual  blessings,  and  thus  all  be  prepared  for  the  onward  progress 
of  His  kingdom. 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


13 


HISTORICAL   VIEW   OF  THE   MISSIONS  OF  THE  BOARD. 

A  paper  was  read  by  Dr.  Anderson  giving  a  brief  historical  view  of 
the  several  missions  of  the  Board,  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  the  field 
in  which  the  Board  has  been  operating  durisig  thirty  years,  with  the 
progress  made  and  the  openings  and  facilities  for  greatly  extended 
labors  distinctly  before  the  meeting.  As  the  principal  statements 
contained  in  this  paper  may  be  found  in  the  Annual  Report,  it  is  not 
deemed  necessary  to  insert  it  here.  This,  with  the  statement  made 
by  the  treasurer  relative  to  the  financial  concerns  of  the  Board,  was 
committed  to  the  Rev.  Drs.  Skinner,  Edwards,  Patton,  Cox,  and 
Tucker,  and  Rev.  Messrs.  Magie  and  Forsyth. 

This  committee  subsequently  reported  approving  of  the  documents 
submitted  to  them  ;  which  was  adopted. 


RESOURCES    FOR    SUSTAINING    AND    ENLARGING    THE  MISSIONS. 

Dr.  Armstrong  read  the  following  paper,  showing  the  ability  of  the 
patrons  of  the  Board  to  carry  forward  the  missionary  work  with  a 
progressively  increasing  expenditure,  and  suggesting  measures  by 
which  enlarged  contributions  may  be  called  forth  and  continued. 

When  we  look  at  the  progressive  character  of  the  work  in  which  the 
Board  is  engaged,  and  the  necessity  for  increasing  funds,  in  proportion  to  its 
progress,  a  question  arises  as  to  the  ability  of  the  patrons  of  the  Board,  to 
meet  these  growing  demands,  and  the  means,  by  w  hich  adequate  contribu- 
tions may  be  obtained. 

The  churches  that  regard  this  Board  as  their  agency  for  the  missionary 
work,  contain  more  than  .'300,000  communicants.  Of  these,  about  one  half 
are  in  Now  England.  Nine-tenths  of  the  remainder  are  in  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  western  states  north  of  the  Ohio  river.  The 
resources  of  the  Board  are  mainly  drawn  from  that  part  of  our  country,  which 
is  most  remarkable  for  enterprize,  industry,  and  economy  ;  for  great  and 
varied  natural  resources,  and  the  rapid  increase  of  its  population  and  devel- 
openient  of  its  resources  ;  for  general  education,  and  the  blessings  of  a 
preached  gospel,  and  an  educated  ministry.  Throughout  this  wide  field,  the 
supporters  of  the  Board  form  a  part  of  the  population,  not  surpassed  by  any 
other  equally  numerous,  in  activity,  energy,  intelligence  and  piety.  If  their 
contributions  already  approached  the  limit  of  their  present  ability,  we  might 
rationally  hope  for  such  an  increase  of  their  numbers  and  resources,  from 
year  to  year,  as  would  be  suflicient  to  meet  the  growing  wants  of  the  mis- 
sions. 

But  present  contributions  can  scarcely  be  regarded  as  approaching  the 
limits  of  present  ability.  The  donations  to  the  Hoard  during  the  last  finan- 
cial year,  exclusive  of  legacies,  and  contributions  from  foreign  countries, 
were  about  .S2 1 0,000.  This  is  an  average  of  seventy  cents  per  annum  to 
each  of  the  I{00,000  church  members,  to  whom  the  Board  look  for  support 
Of  this  amount,  not  less  than  SlJfj.OOO,  one-sixth  of  tiic  whole,  was  given  by 
a  comparatively  small  number  of  persons,  in  sums,  varying  from  ,*r)0,  to 
$1,000.  The  frcnernt  averirfre  of  individual  contributions,  was  not  then-fore 
more  than  sixty  cents.  Of  the  remaining  SI7."),000,  not  less  than  !?  10,000, 
(almost  one-fourth  of  the  whole)  was  given  at  the  monthly  concert  of  prayer, 
by  not  more  than  one-sixth  of  the  church  members.    Most  of  these,  in  addi- 


14 


MINUTES   OF    THE    SPECIAL  MEETING. 


tion  to  what  they  gave  at  the  monthly  concert,  contributed  their  full  propor- 
tion to  the  annual  collections  in  their  churches.  Thus  it  appears,  on  the  sup- 
position that  all  the  members  of  churches  connected  with  the  Board  bore  a 
part  in  the  work,  that  the  general  average  of  contributions  was  less  than  tifty 
cents  to  each  communicant,  for  the  year.  How  easily  might  that  amount  be 
increased  fourfold,  or  even  tenfold,  by  economy  and  self-denial.  Then  it 
would  hardly  approximate  to  the  sum  expended  by  the  whole  community  a 
few  years  since  for  intoxicating  drinks,  now  admitted  to  be  both  useless  and 
pernicious.  It  would  be  far  less  than  is  annually  squandered  in  our  large 
cities  for  amusements,  that  serve  no  other  purpose  than  to  while  away  an 
idle  hour  and  yield  a  momentary  gratification.  There  are  among  the  patrons 
of  the  Board  individual  churches,  whose  contributions  have  averaged  from 
five  to  eight  dollars  annually,  for  each  member,  for  some  years  past,  without 
any  great  self-denial,  or  any  interference  with  the  claims  of  other  objects. 

Careful  investigation  has  evinced  that  the  whole  amount  given  to  the 
Board  is  in  fact  contributed  by  about  one-half  of  the  members  of  churches 
professing  to  co-operate  with  it.  The  proportion  of  members  actually  con- 
tributing, and  the  average  sum  given  by  each  member,  vary  very  mucTi  in 
different  parts  of  the  country.  They  are  largest  in  the  State  of  Massachu- 
setts, where,  according  to  the  best  estimate  that  can  be  made,  a  little  more 
than  two-thirds  of  all  the  members  of  churches  connected  with  the  Board 
made  contributions  last  year. 

The  average  amount  of  these  donations  was  about  $1,10  to  each  commu- 
nicant, or  $l,Wj  to  each  communicant  actually  contributing.  A  like  contri- 
bution from  all  the  communicants  in  the  churches  connected  with  the  Board, 
would  give  an  annual  income  of  §500,000.  In  that  case  legacies  and  dona- 
tions from  non-communicants  would  swell  the  amount  to  $600,000,  twice  the 
sum  needed  to  sustain  the  missions  on  their  present  scale'. 

Yet  the  churches  of  Massachusetts  are  not  oppressed  or  exhausted  by 
what  they  are  now  doing  for  this  cause.  None  of  the  patrons  of  the  Board 
respond  more  cheerfully  to  its  appeals  for  an  increase  of  funds.  No  where 
do  other  benevolent  objects  receive  a  more  liberal  support. 

One  of  the  auxiliaries  of  the  Board  in  Massachusetts  publislies  annually  a 
full  and  accurate  statement  of  all  contributions  to  its  treasury.  The  returns 
thus  made  present  some  interesting  facts.  The  auxiliary  embraces  sixteen 
churches,  which  reported  to  the  General  Association  in  1811,  2,4!.)0  members. 
It  is  made  up  chiefly  of  a  rural  and  agricultural  population.  There  is  no 
city  or  large  town  within  its  lunits.  All  the  churches  have  male  and  female 
foreign  missionary  associations.  The  plan  of  contributing  by  dividing  each 
parish  into  districts,  and  appointing  collectors  of  both  sexes,  for  each  district, 
is  universal.  The  amount  collected  by  this  auxiliary  in  1841,  through  the 
associations,  was  $2,69()  22.  The  report  shews  that  contributions  were  made 
by  2,724  persons,  exceeding  by  234  the  whole  number  of  communicants. 
But  as  contributions  were  made  by  many  who  were  not  church  members, 
(there  were  in  one  parish  8!»  juvenile  contributors)  it  is  certain  that  all  the 
church  members  did  not  contribute. 

By  information  derived  from  other  sources,  it  is  known  that  the  proportion 
of  church  members  who  do  not  contribute  in  that  part  of  the  country,  is  about 
one-fifth  of  the  whole.  A  careful  analysis  of  the  tabic  of  contributions  shows 
that  of  the  whole  number  of  contributors,  one-eighth  |)ay  less  tliari  2.')  cents 
each  per  annum.  A  little  more  than  one- fourth  pay  2.j  cents.  Less  than 
one-fourth  pay  iiO  cents.  Less  than  one-fifth  pay  one  dollar.  One  in  fifteen 
pay  two  dollars.  Of  the  whole  number  of  contributors  more  than  nine-t(Miliis 
give  one  dollar  or  less,  in  sums  varying  from  six  cents  to  one  dollar.  Wx're 
all  the  actual  contributors  of  this  auxiliary,  who  gave  one  dollar,  or  less,  to 
give  only  twice  as  much,  the  collection  would  bo  $4,500,  instead  of  $2,U00. 
How  easily  might  this  be  done. 


MINUTES    OF    THE    SPECIAL  MEETING. 


15 


Yet  the  whole  collection  in  this  auxiliary  last  year,  including  the  monthly 
concert,  was  s.3,288,  making  a  general  average  on  the  whole  number  of 
church  members  of  Sl,32.  A  like  average  on  all  the  members  of  churches 
co-operating  with  the  Board,  would  have  increased  the  receipts  to  8400,000. 

Here  is  a  body  of  country  churches,  made  up  mainly  of  plain  farmers  and 
mechanics,  with  no  peculiar  facilities  for  the  acquisition  of  property,  and  not 
more  wealthy  than  the  same  class  of  persons  throughout  the  land.  Their 
rate  of  contribution  last  year,  had  it  been  universal,  would  have  nearly  doub- 
led the  receipts  of  the  Board.  Yet  nine  out  of  ten  of  these  gave  one  dollar 
or  less.  While  one-fifth  of  all  the  church  members  made  no  contribution. 
Probably  there  is  no  other  body  of  contiguous  churches  equally  large,  whose 
resources  are  more  fully  drawn  out  by  a  thorough  and  systematic  organiza- 
tion. Yet  how  far  do  their  contributions  fall  short  of  their  ability,  and  how- 
easy  would  it  be  for  the  great  mass  of  contributors  then,  to  advance  in  their 
subscriptions  from  year  to  year,  as  the  progress  of  the  missionary  work  calls 
for  increasing  means  of  support. 

But  if  this  is  true  of  these  churches,  how  much  more  is  it  true  of  the  vast 
majority  of  the  friends  of  the  Board.  Individuals  may  be  found  who  are  now 
doing  as  much  as  they  are  able  to  do,  and  there  are  perhaps  a  few  churches 
that  have  fully  come  up  to  the  measure  of  their  ability.  But  take  the  aggre- 
gate of  the  patrons  of  the  Board  throughout  the  land,  and  there  can  be  no 
question  of  their  ability  to  sustain  a  system  of  missionary  operations  whose 
extensive  and  growing  prosperity,  shall  call  for  a  steadily  increasing  support 
from  year  to  year. 

Can  they  be  induced  thus  to  contribute,  and  if  they  can,  by  what  means 
shall  this  be  done 

Doubtless  Christians  may  be  persuaded  to  do  their  duty  to  the  Savior  and 
to  their  perishing  brethren.  It  may  require  time,  and  much  well  directed 
labor,  and  the  desired  result  may  be  reached  by  slow  degrees.  But  to  doubt 
its  practicability,  is  a  direct  impeachment  of  His  wisdom  and  goodness  who 
redeemed  his  people  with  his  own  blood,  and  who  dwells  in  them  by  his 
Spirit,  that  they  may  grow  into  his  likeness,  till  they  are  presented  faultless 
before  God,  with  exceeding  joy. 

Three  things  are  required  to  draw  out  the  resources  of  the  christian  com- 
munity to  such  an  extent  as  the  progressive  enlargement  of  the  missionary 
work  may  demand. 

1.  Information  generally  diffused,  as  to  the  wants  of  the  heathen :  the 
facilities  God  has  given  us  for  publishing  the  gospel  among  them,  and  the 
success  with  which  it  has  pleased  him  to  crown  the  labors  of  our  missionary 
brethren.  For  this  object,  the  Board  has  the  means,  through  its  publications, 
the  Missionary  Herald  and  the  Dayspring,  of  conveying  missionary  intelli- 
gence monthly  to  all  its  patrons.  And  we  may  anticipate  great  and  in- 
creasing aid  from  the  periodical  religious  press.  To  our  weekly  religious 
papers,  the  Board  is  deeply  indebted  for  their  valuable  help,  freely  given  in 
time  past.  And  never  more  indebted,  than  in  the  present  crisis  in  its  finan- 
cial condition  and  prospects.  They  have  borne  an  important  part  in  diffusing 
the  impulse  given  to  the  cause  by  the  late  meeting  in  Philadelphia.  \Vc 
may  safely  count  on  their  continued  co-operation. 

The  second  requisite  for  drawing  out  the  resources  of  the  church  for  the 
missionary  work,  is  thorough  organization  and  systematic  action,  such  as 
shill  present  the  opportunity  and  the  invitation  to  contribute,  at  slated  times, 
according  to  their  ability,  to  all  who  are  friendly  to  the  cause.  For  this  pur- 
pose, the  plan,  repeatedly  recommended  by  the  Board,  of  auxiliary  societies, 
embracing  such  churches  as  can  conveniently  act  together ;  with  associations 
male  and  female  in  every  church  ;  and  collectors  tor  the  several  sections  of 
each  church,  has  been  tried  and  apjirovcd.  It  may  be  made  as  thorough, 
steady,  and  certain  in  its  operations,  as  we  would  desire.    The  experience  of 


16 


MINUTES    OP    THE    SPECIAL  MEETING. 


twenty  years  has  shown  that  with  proper  attention  it  will  become  more  and 

more  efficient  from  year  to  year. 

The  third  thing  necessary  to  secure  the  desired  result,  is  the  presence  and 
power  of  the  Holy  Ghost  in  the  churches,  filling  the  hearts  of  believers  with 
love  to  Christ  and  compassion  for  perishing  men,  and  making  them  willing 
to  labor  and  deny  themselves  for  tlie  honor  of  the  Savior  and  the  salvation  of 
those  for  whom  he  died. 

We  know  that  God  is  willing,  according  to  promise  and  in  answer  to 
prayer,  to  give  his  Holy  Spirit  in  such  manner  and  measure,  as  shall  render 
effectual  the  whole  system  of  means  for  enlisting  his  people  in  the  mission- 
ary work,  so  that  according  to  their  ability,  yea  and  beyond  it,  they  shall  be 
ready  of  themselves  to  pour  their  free  will  offerings  into  his  treasury. 

Here  then  we  have  all  necessary  means  for  drawing  forth  the  ample  re- 
sources of  the  churches,  to  meet  the  growing  wants  of  a  system  of  missionary 
operations,  steadily  enlarging  its  sphere,  and  becoming  more  efficient  in 
every  department  of  evangelical  labor,  till  in  connection  with  the  labors  of 
kindred  institutions,  and  through  the  abundant  effusions  of  the  Divine  Spirit, 
the  earth  is  full  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God. 

To  promote  the  steady  and  successful  action  of  this  system,  the  Board  has 
adopted  as  a  part  of  its  permament  arrangement,  the  employment  of  a  suita- 
ble number  of  general  agents,  devoted  to  the  work,  who  give  themselves  to 
the  business  of  diffusing  information,  awakening  interest  in  the  missionary 
cause,  and  inviting  the  churches  to  seasonable  action  for  its  support 

Let  us  now  have  the  cordial  co-operation  of  pastors  of  churches  and  the 
leading  friends  of  the  cause,  each  charging  himself  with  a  personal  responsi- 
bility, to  look  after  the  work  in  his  own  sphere  of  influence  and  effort,  and 
setting  an  example  of  self-denying  liberality  according  as  God  gives  him  the 
means.  This  will  give  circulation  to  missionary  intelligence  ;  it  will  ensure 
the  needed  organization  and  systematic  action  ;  it  will  animate  tlie  people  of 
God  to  unceasing  prayer,  and  thus  secure  the  abiding  presence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  without  whom  all  means  and  measures  are  impotent  and  vain,  but 
through  whom  a  little  one  shall  become  a  thousand,  and  a  feeble  one  a  strong 
nation. 

The  heartfelt  conviction  of  personal  responsibility  in  the  missionary  work, 
pervading  the  assembled  friends  of  the  cause,  at  the  late  meeting  of  tlie 
Board  in  Philadelphia,  was  the  most  marked  feature  of  that  remarkable  meet- 
ing. And  the  power  of  this  principle  to  replenish  an  exliausted  treasury,  has 
been  signally  evinced.  The  increased  interest  and  activity  of  pastors,  is  the 
most  hopeful  characteristic  of  the  present  movement  in  behalf  of  the  mis- 
sions. 

The  agents  of  the  Board  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  speak  of  this,  with 
gratitude  to  God,  and  to  their  bretliren.  When  tiicy  are  able  to  visit  the 
churches,  it  gives  unwonted  success  to  their  appeals.  When  they  cannot  be 
present,  it  supplies  their  lack  of  service.  May  we  not  hope  that  these,  the 
divinely  appointed  teachers  and  leaders  of  the  people  of  God,  will  not  grow 
weary,  or  relax  tlieir  exertions  ?  And  with  their  persevering  and  cheerful 
co-operation,  may  we  not  rest  assured,  that  tlie  churches  who  have  chosen 
this  Board  as  their  agent  in  the  work  of  publishing  the  Gospel  to  every  crea- 
ture can  'and  will  supply  abundant  means,  for  the  speedy,  entire  removal  of 
all  its  pecuniary  embarrassments,  and  its  steady  onward  march,  where  the 
providence  of  God  opens  the  w'ay,  and  the  Spirit  of  God  sets  his  seal  upon  its 
labors ! 

The  work  is  vast.  It  is  urgent.  It  is  full  of  encouragement  The  char- 
acter of  the  Board  as  the  missionary  representation  of  so  many  churches, -and 
the  prosperity  of  the  missionary  cause  at  home  and  abroad,  dciiiaiid  the 
speedy  entire  li(iiiidation  of  the  rnmaining  dclit,  and  the  enlarged  and  vigor- 
ous prosecution  of  our  work.  The  sentiment  with  which  u  distinguished 
leader  in  the  missionary  enterprize,  commenced  his  self-denying  and  useful 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


17 


career,  "  attempt  great  things,  expect  great  things,"  becomes  more  and  more 
appropriate  as  the  work  advances  toward  its  consummation.  While  the  Lord 
of  Hosts,  according  to  his  promise,  hastens  in  his  time,  the  blessed  result  so 
long  predicted  and  prayed  for,  his  people,  who  in  his  name  have  set  up  their 
banners,  should  forget  the  things  that  are  behind,  and  reach  forth  to  those 
that  are  before,  till  all  nations  call  Messiah  blessed,  and  the  whole  earth  is 
full  of  his  glory. 

This  document  was  referred  to  Chief  Justice  Williams,  Rev.  Mr. 
Barnes,  Hon.  B.  F.  Butler,  Rev.  Dr.  DeWitt,  Rev.  Willard  Child, 
Rev.  Prof.  Goodrich,  Rev.  E.  Cheever,  and  Hon.  Levi  Cutter;  to 
whom  was  also  referred  the  following  document  read  by  Dr.  Ander- 
son, on 

THE  ESSENTIALLY  PROGRESSIVE  N.VfURE  OF  MISSIONS  TO  THE  HEATHEN. 

Foreign  missions  are  believed  to  be  essentially  progressive.  The)'  are  so, 
like  the  growth  of  a  tree,  or  of  a  family.  The  analogy  in  the  latter  case  is 
most  striking.  The  children  advance  in  physical,  intellectual,  and  moral  de- 
velopement,  make  increasing  demands  for  food,  clothing  and  education,  and 
must  be  prepared  to  take  an  independent  and  useful  stand  in  the  world.  This 
progress  is  a  part  of  the  family  constitution,  and  violence  is  done  to  the  laws 
of  domestic  and  social  life  wherever  it  is  resisted,  or  even  not  promoted.  Up 
to  a  certain  period,  it  involves  a  regular  increase  of  expense,  which  no  en- 
lightened parent  would  withhold,  except  from  necessity. 

The  same  general  truth  holds  in  respect  to  missions.  In  our  own  system 
of  missions  at  least,  it  is  a  fundamental  truth,  and  one  on  which  the  delibe- 
rations of  this  meeting  ought  doubtless  to  turn.  The  time  has  come  to  count 
the  cost  of  our  enterprise,  and  to  see,  before  going  further,  whether  we  are 
able  and  willing  to  meet  it.  Some  have  expressed  the  opinion,  that  the 
Board  should  form  its  plans  on  the  basis  of  a  fixed  income ;  and  they  have 
mentioned  2~Mfl00  or  300,000  dollars,  thinking  it  cannot  be  expected  to  re- 
ceive a  larger  income.  If  a  larger  sum  cannot  be  obtained,  it  is  important 
we  should  know  it ;  but  the  proof  of  such  a  fact  would  also  prove  the  cer- 
tainty of  a  decline,  at  no  distant  day,  of  our  present  system  of  missions,  and 
also  of  the  existing  missionary  spirit  in  our  churches.  It  is  impossible  our 
system  of  missions  should  long  bo  pr()S|)erous  on  a  uniform  basis  of  expendi- 
ture, unless  there  should  be  something  like  a  now  and  extraordinary  dispen- 
sation of  tlie  Spirit.  Some,  misled  by  supposed  analogy  drawn  from  the 
business  of  the  world,  can  see  no  more  difficulty  in  reguhiting  the  expendi- 
tures of  foreign  missions,  than  those  of  trade  and  coiMineicc.  l?ut  there  is 
scarcely  any  analogy  between  the  two.  Besides  the  intrinsic  difference  in 
their  natures,  the  work  of  missions  is  pre-eminently  a  work  of  faith.  Faith 
apprehends  the  main  grounds  of  confidence  respecting  it.  Our  hopes  and 
expectations  concornin(r  its  progress  and  final  triumph,  are  sustained  by  the 
command,  promise,  faitiifulness,  power,  and  agency  of  Almighty  (lod.  There 
is  great  room  for  discretion,  indeed,  in  forming  new  missions.  A  missionary 
society  may  have  too  many  missions.  IJiit  the  missions  being  once  institu- 
ted, tlioy  are  sub  ject,  like  so  many  fanulies,  to  the  inevitable  necessity  of  be- 
ing progressive,  or  of  sufieriiig  |)enalties  subversive  of  their  very  existence. 
This  is  the  law  of  their  nature.  And  up  to  a  certain  point  in  their  advance- 
ment, there  will  bo  a  regular  increase  in  the  demand  for  expenditure. 

This  fact  would  be  viewed  with  concern,  were  it  not  that  christian  commu- 
nities, on  entering  upon  this  work,  do  always  commenre  their  contributions 
on  so  small  a  scale,  as  to  admit  of  a  grnduni  enlargement,  on  the  wholo,  for 
a  long  scries  of  years.  The  most  ample  proof  of  this  would  result  from  a. 
3 


18 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


thorough  statistical  investigation.  It  should  also  be  considered,  that  the  wil- 
lingness of  God's  people  to  contribute, — wherein,  for  all  practical  purposes, 
consists  their  ability  to  do  so, — increases  as  the  magnitude  and  interest  of 
tlie  work  are  brouglit  out  to  their  view. 

Tiie  object  of  foreign  missions  is  to  introduce  the  gospel  among  heathen 
nations ;  and  experience  shows  that  this  can  be  elfeclually  accomplished 
only  by  sucli  a  course  of  measures  as  will  in  fact  secure  for  the  people  the 
self-sustaining  institutions  of  the  gospel.  The  apostles  introduced  these  in- 
stitutions ;  but  they  had  far  less  labor  to  effect  it,  than  we  have,  owing  to 
the  highly  civilized  state  of  the  fields  of  their  mission.  Were  the  heathen 
countries  we  have  to  evangelize  as  civilized  as  Asia  Minor,  Macedonia,  or 
Achaia,  we  sliould  have  to  provide  for  only  the  personal  and  family  expenses 
of  the  missionaries,  and  for  printing  the  Scriptures  and  religious  books  and 
tracts  ;  and  even  a  part  of  this  expense,  and  soon  the  whole,  would  be  de- 
frayed by  the  native  converts.  But  in  general  there  are  stronger  reasons 
now,  owing  to  tlie  degraded  state  of  the  heathen,  than  even  the  apostle  Paul 
had  at  Corinth  and  Thessalonica,  for  not  deriving  the  personal  support  of 
missionaries  from  heathen  converts.  The  most  that  can  be  expected  of  them 
is,  that  they  will  be  persuaded  to  support  their  own  native  teachers  and 
preachers,  and  gradually  to  assume  the  support  of  the  press,  and  of  their 
schools  and  other  institutions  of  learning. 

And  here  it  will  be  necessary  to  show  what  are  the  elements  of  a  modern 
mission,  and  the  sources  of  its  expenditure.  They  are, — the  personal  and 
fauuly  expenses  of  tlie  missionaries,  common  schools  and  school-houses,  the 
printing  of  books,  higher  schools  or  seminaries,  and  the  support  of  a  native 
agency  of  various  descriptions.  The  missionary  not  only  publishes  tlie  gos- 
pel orally,  but,  as  a  good  protestant  Christian,  he  also  gives  the  Bible  to  the 
people;  which  he  can  do  only  so  far  as  the  people  are  taught  to  read  the 
printed  page.  Not  that  missionaries  are  to  teach  the  whole  heathen  world 
to  read,  or  even  a  considerable  portion  of  it.  The  most  they  can  do  is  to  en- 
sure the  creation  of  such  a  public  sentiment  as  shall  secure  this  result.  This 
involves  the  establishment  of  schools  to  some  extent.  These  schools  at  the 
same  time  become  attentive  congregations,  where  tiiere  will  be  frecjuent  op- 
portunities for  addressing  parents,  as  well  as  children.  They  form  also  the 
missionary's  strongest  tie  to  the  people  at  the  commencement  of  his  work, 
and  his  best  means  of  infusing  christian  ideas  into  the  language.  Of  books 
he  will  need,  besides  the  Bible,  a  variety  that  are  elementary  in  their  char- 
acter, historical,  doctrinal  and  practical :  tlie  heathen  world  being  entirely 
destitute  of  such  as  are  fit  for  cliristian  use.  Tlie  school-houses  will  be  cheap 
structures  ;  and  they  will  serve  also  for  preaching-houses  in  the  neighbor- 
hoods where  they  are  situiited.  1"he  meeting-houses  will  be  required  at  the 
central  points  where  the  missionaries  reside,  whither  the  natives  may  resort 
at  stated  times  to  hear  preaching.  As  soon  as  converts  are  multiplied,  it 
becomes  an  interesting  (luestion,  how  native  pastors  shall  be  provided  for 
them,  and  how,  too,  the  more  ])romising  of  the  pious  youth  shall  be  rendered 
valuable  evangelists  and  teachers  in  connection  with  the  mission.  Indeed 
this  (juestion  ought  always  to  arise  at  the  very  outset  The  missions  will  be 
necessary  from  generation  to  generation,  unless,  as  ministers  of  the  grace 
of  God,  we  proceed  on  a  plan  thai  will  throw  knowledge  and  power  enough 
into  the  native  mind  to  do  without  foreign  aid.  Upon  any  other  plan,  we 
have  no  reason  to  expect  a  mission  to  do  otherwise  than  run  out  and  fail. 
There  is  but  one  way  of  doing  this  in  any  country,  civilized  or  savage, 
christian  or  heatlien,  and  that  is  by  giving  a  tiiorough  education  to  a  select 
number  of  minds — by  training  up  teachers  and  leaders  for  tiie  peo(de  in 
academies  and  colleges,  on  a  principle  that  separates  the  pupils  from  the 
surrounding  lieatlienism.  It  is  only  in  institutions  like  these,  a  competent 
native  ministry  can  be  provided  for  the  people.  There  need  also  to  be  semi- 
naries for  females,  as  well  as  males  ;  the  value  of  native  helpers  being  mani- 


MIXUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


19 


fold  greater,  when  they  have  intelligent  and  pious  wives.  And  when  we 
have  educated  pious  natives  to  help  us,  we  rDUSt  give  them  employment,  and 
must  sustain  theui  and  their  families  until  their  native  brethren  can  be  in- 
duced to  support  them,  or  we  lose  some  of  tlie  most  valuable  and  costly  fruits 
of  our  labors. 

These,  then,  are  the  elements,  the  instrumentalities,  the  sources  of  expen- 
diture, in  a  modern  mission. 

The  more  important  indications  of  progress  in  a  mission,  are  these; — col- 
lecting hearers,  reducing  languages  to  writing,  translating  the  Scriptures, 
forming  christian  schools,  creating  a  desire  for  education,  awakening  anxiety 
to  learn  Uie  way  of  life  eternal,  multiplying  converts,  gathering  churches, 
training  up  a  native  ministry  and  leading  the  people  to  support  it :  and  what- 
ever else  shows  an  amelioration  in  tiie  domestic,  social,  civil,  and  religious 
state  of  the  people. 

Now  the  principle  we  seek  to  establish  is,  not  only  that  missions  must  be 
progressive,  or  they  will  run  out,  but  that  this  progress  becomes  the  basis  of 
increased  expenditure,  and  creates  a  demand  for  it.  The  demand  will  be 
answered  and  ought  to  be  answered,  more  or  less  by  the  natives  themselves  ; 
but,  in  most  heathen  communities,  with  all  that  can  be  got  from  the  native 
converts,  there  will  be  an  increasing  demand  upon  us  here  at  home,  for  men 
and  pecuniary  means,  proportioned  to  the  developeinent  of  results  in  the  mis- 
sion ;  and  this  may  be  expected  to  continue  up  to  the  period  when  the  peo- 
ple have  so  far  got  possession  of  the  institutions  of  the  gospel  and  come  under 
their  influence,  as  to  appreciate  in  some  good  measure  their  importance. 
Every  new  advance  may  be  said  to  involve  a  call  for  additional  expense,  as 
the  condition  of  its  healthful  permanence.  Thus,  the  more  disposition  there 
is  to  have  the  word  of  life,  the  more  necessity  there  will  be  for  meeting- 
houses. The  more  earnest  the  desire  for  schools,  the  greater  will  be  the  de- 
mand for  teachers,  school-books,  and  perhaps  school-houses  ;  and  the  neces- 
sity for  expenditure  on  this  score  will  never  be  so  urgent,  as  when  the  people, 
as  at  the  Sandwich  Islands,  show  a  disposition  to  help  themselves  ;  for  these 
are  golden  opportunities,  too  valuable  to  be  lost  The  cost  in  the  printing 
department,  for  some  time,  if  the  means  are  at  command,  will  be  in  propor- 
tion to  the  progress  of  mind  and  feeling  upward  from  the  depths  of  a  barba- 
rous and  ignorant  degradation  ;  and  when  there  are  translations,  schools, 
readers,  native  converts  to  be  established  in  the  faith,  native  helpers  to  be 
trained,  and  a  community  decnandin?  the  lights  and  benefits  of  general 
knowledge,  it  cannot  but  be  considerable.  It  is  at  least  an  indispensable 
auxiliary.  But  the  greatest  expense  of  all,  next  to  that  of  supporting  the 
missionaries  themselves,  in  a  well  conducted  mission,  will  be  for  training  and 
supporting  helpers  in  the  various  grades  of  a  native  agency;  and  the  series 
of  measures  for  rearing  this  agency  being  once  commenced,  it  is  essentially 
progressive,  and  with  increasing  cost  Any  violent  curtailment  here,  is  at 
great  sacrifice  and  loss — as  in  Uie  well-known  case  in  the  Ceylon  mission,  in 
the  year  18;{7. 

The  history  of  many  of  our  missions  might  be  adduced  in  illustration  and 
proof  of  the  essentially  progress- ve  nature  of  the  missions  and  of  their  expen- 
ditures, whether  regarded  individually,  or  in  their  collective  capacity  as  a 
system  of  missions  ;  but  the  mission  most  to  our  purpose  is  that  at  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  as  being  in  some  respects  the  most  advanced. 

This  mission  commenced  its  existence  in  flie  year  1&2Q,  with  seven  fami- 
lies;  and  so  remarkable  was  the  graceof  (iod  scon  in  its  outset,  that,  in  three 
years,  it  was  necessary  to  send  seven  more  families,  and,  in  the  year  lS'i7, 
six  others.  Since  that  time,  thirty-four  families  have  been  added,  in  five 
companies.  Meanwhile  there  have  been  deaths  and  removals,  and  the  pre- 
sent number  of  families  is  forty.  Vet  this  increase  of  the  force  of  the  mis- 
sion was  scarcely  suflicient  to  meet  the  demands  of  the  great  awakening  in 
1837-8-9,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  recorded  in  the  annals  of  the  church. 


20 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


This  necessary  increase  in  the  number  of  missionaries  occasioned  a  gradually 
accumulating  expenditure,  which  was  the  greater  from  the  necessity  of 
erecting  a  house  for  each  family  to  dwell  in.  The  printing  establishment 
began  its  operations  the  year  after  the  commencement  of  the  mission,  and, 
without  ever  meeting  the  demands  of  the  native  mind,  scarcely  in  any  one 
period,  has  thrown  off  a  hundred  millions  of  pages.  Its  expenses  in  1837, 
exceeded  86,500.  It  has  also  required  the  erection  of  buildings  for  its  use, 
more  safe,  durable,  and  costly,  than  the  mud  and  thatch  of  the  native  houses. 
The  great  prevalence  of  common  schools  is  obvious  from  the  fact  of  one-third 
part  of  the  inhabitants  being  able  to  read  ;  and  though  the  cost  of  their 
schools,  such  as  they  were,  has  been  borne  chiefly  by  the  natives,  the  mission 
has  in  some  years  found  it  necessary  to  pay  nearly  a  thousand  dollars  in  this 
department  The  desire  of  the  people  for  public  worship  on  tiie  Sabbath, 
has  been  such  that  they  have  themselves  erected  the  meeting-houses,  that  are 
found  in  almost  every  district;  but,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  the  buildings 
for  the  boarding-schools  or  seminaries,  and  the  annual  cost  of  these  institu- 
tions, have  come  almost  wholly  upon  the  mission..  The  rise  in  the  annual 
expenditure  of  this  mission,  during  the  twenty  years  past,  has  been  from 
$5,000  to  .f35,000,  or  seven  fold ;  and  yet  its  expenditure  has  generally  been 
graduated  on  the  most  moderate  scale  compatible  with  the  healthful  exist- 
ence of  the  mission,  and  is  now  too  low  for  the  noon-tide  and  crisis  of  our 
operations  there. 

What  if  there  had  been  the  like  progress,  during  the  same  time,  in  all  our 
other  missions  ?  In  fact,  our  present  indebtedness  may  be  attributed  to  tlie 
inevitable  increase  of  expenditure  inherent  in  a  system  of  missions  such  as 
w-e  have  undertaken  to  prosecute,  viewed  in  connection  with  the  want  of  a 
corresponding  increase  in  the  receipts. 

That  the  actual  expenditure  at  the  Sandwich  Islands  lias  been  at  a  stand 
since  1837,  proves  nothing  against  the  principle  we  are  endeavoring  to  estab- 
lish, because  that  is  wholly  the  effect  of  constraint.  The  mission  is  allowed 
to  expend  no  more  than  !f«35,000  annually,  and  has  only  that  sum  to  divide 
among  its  several  instrumentalities.  It  needs  several  thousand  dollars  more 
to  facilitate  the  training  of  a  native  ministry  for  the  native  churches.  Nei- 
ther can  the  actual  expenditures  of  any  of  the  missions  of  the  Board  of  late 
years  invalidate  our  reasoning,  because  they  have  all  been  under  limitation, 
and  a  limitation  Avhich  is  in  general  determined  more  by  the  amount  of  re- 
ceipts, than  by  the  actual  necessities  of  the  missions  ;  and  the  Prudential 
Committee  have  been  obliged  to  use  the  utmost  extent  of  their  influence  to 
induce  tiie  missions  to  keep,  at  all  events,  within  their  limits.  This  often 
does  great  violence  to  the  feelings  of  the  missionaries,  who,  while  they  see 
and  confess  the  necessity,  are  deeply  grieved  at  the  amount  of  good  thus 
annually  sacrificed.  Indeed,  when  the  pressure  was  first  resolutely  applied, 
in  the  memorable  year  1837,  tiiere  were  missionaries  who  could  scarcely 
bring  themselves  to  submit  to  it,  such  violence  did  it  inflict  upon  tliose  on- 
ward tendencies,  which  God  has  been  pleased  to  make  inherent  in  the  con- 
stitution of  christian  missions. 

There  is,  therefore,  a  period  in  our  missions,  longer  or  siiorter,  in  which,  if 
they  suffer  no  violence,  their  results  and  expenditures  both  may  be  expected 
to  increase  regularly;  and  tiiis  increase  of  expenditure,  resulting  directly 
from  the  grace  of  God,  is  the  essential  condition  of  the  pros()ority  of  the  mis- 
sion. The  rapidity  of  the  increase  varies  indefinitely.  The  fields  of  labor 
are  intrinsically  different.  The  missionaries  differ  in  spirituality,  capacity, 
and  enterprise.  Enemies  oppose.  The  progress  of  events  is  hindered  by  the 
scantiness  of  the  support  aflbrded.  Hut,  in  view  of  all  that  is  revealed  to  us 
by  the  word  and  providence  of  the  Most  High,  it  seems  like  a  waste  of  influ- 
ence to  prosecute  missions  among  the  heathen  on  any  other  principle,  than 
that  of  a  gradually  increasing  advancement  in  their  expenditure  until  we  have 
passed  Uie  crisis  in  our  work.    It  is  painful  to  think  of  the  sncriiice  there  ha^ 


MINUTES  OF  THE   SPECIAL  MEETING. 


21 


been  in  not  a  few  of  our  missions,  for  some  years  past,  owing  to  the  want  of 
pecuniary  ability  to  employ  the  results  (which  was  the  way  to  take  care  of 
them)  as  the  means  of  fartlier  progress.  There  has  been  loss  in  very  many 
of  the  missions,  and  at  almost  every  stage  of  our  progress.  Our  actual  ad- 
vance has  indeed  been  far  less  than  it  might  have  been,  with  the  same  num- 
ber of  missionaries,  had  we  had  ample  funds,  with  grace  at  home,  and  a  "cor- 
responding grace  on  the  part  of  the  missions,  to  manage  them  wisely.  The 
missions,  tor  six  years  past,  have  been  in  the  condition  of  very  poor  families  ; 
many  of  them,  too,  just  in  that  stage  of  progress  wlien  the  welfare  of  a  whole 
generation  seemed  to  depend  on  having  more  means. 

Wliile,  however,  we  guard  against  too  great  a  number  of  missions,  there  is 
danger  on  the  other  hand.  If  there  be  not  a  considerable  number  and  vari- 
ety in  the  missions,  the  liold  upon  the  interest  of  the  community  will  not  be 
sufficiently  uniform  and  strong.  We  must  be  prepared  for  the  alternation  of 
clouds  and  sunshine. 

Experience  has  not  yet  thrown  a  strong  light  upon  the  question,  how  long 
the  expenditures  of  a  mission  must  be  on  the  ascending  series.    Should  the 
work  be  prosecuted  with  vigor  in  the  oriental  churches,  and  among  the 
Druzes,  it  would  seem  that  this  series  will  not  there  embrace  a  great  number 
of  years;  though  it  will  be  long  before  we  shall  tind  it  expedient  to  divert  the 
current  of  our  charities  wholly  from  that  quarter.    In  pagan  nations,  much 
will  depend  on  the  degree  of  civilization.    In  point  of  fact,  these  pay  much 
in  support  of  their  idolatrous  worship  ;  and  the  converts  should  be  taught 
that,  as  Christians,  they  are  bound  to  aid  in  supporting  the  worship  of  the  true 
God.    If  this  point  has  not  been  sufficiently  urged  upon  native  converts  by 
missionaries,  it  has  probably  been  because  they  have  yet  had  no  native  min- 
istry to  ordain  as  pastors  of  the  native  churches.    At  the  Sandwich  Islands, 
the  books  printed  by  the  mission  have  generally  been  sold  to  the  people, 
though  frequently  at  a  price  little  more  than  nominal ;  and  in  the  process  of 
printing  and  binding  the  books,  natives  have  been  taught  those  arts.  The 
people  have  been  assisted  to  some  extent  in  building  school- houses,  and  in 
supporting  their  common  schools ;  but  this  ought  not  much  longer  to  be 
necessary.  One  or  two  of  the  smaller  boarding-schools  are  already  supported 
by  the  native  churches.    As  soon  as  there  are  natives  qualified  to  be  put  in 
charge  of  the  churches,  those  churches  will  naturally  come  into  that  relation 
to  the  Board,  which  churches  in  our  new  settlements  sustain  to  the  Home 
Missionary  Society.    And  just  here,  we  suppose,  will  be  the  turning  point  in 
our  expenditures,  from  the  ascending  to  the  descending  series.  Our  missions 
will  not  need  then  to  be  any  longer  re-inforced;  but  the  superintendence  of 
the  native  churches  and  of  the  other  christian  institutions  may  be  left  to  the 
veteran  brethren,  whom  the  Lord  shall  have  spared  to  see  that  day.    This  is 
on  the  presumption,  that  the  people  of  the  islands  will  remain  independent  of 
other  powers  and  retain  their  present  hold  upon  their  lands.    It  will  be  many 
years  after  this  period,  however,  before  the  Board  can  withdraw  all  its  mis- 
sionaries, or  cease  wholly  to  make  grants  to  the  higher  institutions  of  learn- 
ing on  the  islands,  and  to  aid  the  Domestic  Missionary  and  Education  Socie- 
ties the  people  may  be  supposed  to  have  formed  ;  or  before  their  Bible,  Tract, 
and  Sabbath  School  Societies  will  cease  to  ask  for  aid  from  the  similar  insti- 
tutions in  this  country.    But,  should  do  disastrous  influences  disturb  the 
course  of  events,  the  sums  granted  will  not  be  largo,  and  will  gradually  di- 
minish as  the  religious  principles  and  habits  ot'  the  islanders  shall  gain 
strength.    And  what  has  been  said  of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  will  serve  to 
illustrate  the  probable  course  of  events  in  other  portions  of  the  heathen 
world. 

What  is  the  conclusion  of  the  whole,  in  respect  to  our  position,  our  pros- 
pects, and  our  duty,  as  an  association  in  charge  of  the  business  of  conducting 
foreign  missions  ? 


22 


MINUTES    OF    THE    SPECIAL  MEETING, 


Our  position  is  that  of  a  society  having  twenty-six  missions  in  widely  dis- 
tant parts  of  the  world,  most  of  which  are  in  such  progress,  as  to  render  ad- 
ditional expenditures  indispensible  to  securing  their  results  ;  and  in  some  of 
them,  owing  to  the  extraordinary  nature  of  their  progress,  the  expenditures 
will  need  to  be  considerable.  If  the  advance  of  the  missions  be  as  great  in 
seven  years  to  come,  as  it  has  been  in  the  seven  years  past,  $400,000,  if  not 
half  a  million,  will  be  needed  then,  as  much  as  $300,000  are  now. 

In  contemplating  our  prospects,  it  is  encouraging  to  know  that  $300,000 
seemed  as  large  a  sum  to  be  raised  for  the  missions  of  the  Board,  seven  years 
ago,  as  half  a  million  does  now,  and  the  community  appeared  less  able  and 
willing  to  give  ;  and  this  shows  a  progress  of  ideas  and  sentiments  in  rela- 
tion to  the  missionary  work,  and  to  the  ability  to  sustain  it.  But  can  the 
amount  necessary  for  this  purpose  be  contributed  by  the  community  without 
a  painful  sacrifice  ?  And  is  there  reason  to  hope  it  will  be  contributed? 
These  inquiries  have  already  been  considered  by  another. 

The  duty  of  the  Board  will  bo  matter  of  inference  from  tlie  amount  of 
means  placed  at  its  disposal.  The  wasteful  policy  of  keeping  missions  on  an 
inadequate  allowance  ought,  on  no  account,  to  be  persisted  in ;  nor  will  an 
enlightened  religious  community  constrain  to  the  discontinuance  of  the  more 
recent  missions,  in  order  to  have  the  means  of  sustaining  those  that  are  older 
and  more  advanced. 

The  committee  to  whom  were  committed  the  two  documents  given 
above,  afterward  made  the  following  report  through  their  chairman. 

That  they  entirely  concur  witli  the  Prudential  Committee  in  the  views  by 
them  expressed.  That  the  nature  of  the  work  of  missions  to  the  heathen  is 
essentially  progressive  ;  and  for  a  time,  therefore,  must  demand  increased  ex- 
penses ;  and  that  when  uncivilized  nations  first  receive  the  gospel,  it  is  not 
to  be  expected  that  they  will  be  able  to  sustain  the  institutions  of  the  gospel 
immediately,  without  assistance  from  abroad;  and  thus  the  very  successes 
with  which  Providence  has  favored  us,  must,  for  a  time,  be  the  means  of  addi- 
tional expense.  And  if  the  gospel  is  to  fill  the  whole  earth  by  means  of 
human  instrumentality,  the  means  used  for  tiie  purpose  must  continue  to  be 
enlarged  more  and  more,  until  the  churches  feel  the  full  import  of  the  com- 
mand. Go,  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature, 

A  ([uestion  then  arises  connected  with  these  remarks,  of  great  importance 
to  the  operations  of  this  Board,  whether  the  churches  connected  with  this 
Board  are  willing  and  able  to  furnish  the  means  to  meet  the  increased  de- 
mand, which  the  progressive  nature  of  this  work  may  require. 

As  to  the  ability  of  the  churches,  the  Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the 
friends  of  the  cause  are  able  to  meet  the  increased  demand  to  the  extent  re- 
quired by  the  progressive  nature  of  this  work. 

By  this,  however,  we  do  not  moan  to  say  that  all  our  churches  can  be  ex- 
pected to  do  more  than  they  have  done  the  current  year ;  on  the  other  hand 
we  feel  bound  to  say,  that  some  of  them  have  this  year  made  efforts  which 
they  will  not  probably  exceed  in  the  succeeding  years,  although  we  hope 
much  and  believe  much  in  the  continued  exertions  of  these  churches.  At 
the  same  time  we  think  that  there  yet  remains  much  land  to  be  possessed  in 
the  midst  of  us.  \Vc  fear  tiiat  the  wants  of  the  heathen  world  are  yet  very 
imperfectly  understood  by  many  of  our  christian  brethren;  and  if  they  are 
sometimes  awakened  by  tiie  cry  of  a  pressure  and  great  danger,  yet  they  are 
not  aware  of  and  do  not  provide  for  the  continued  supply  which  the  wants-of 
a  dying  world  demand. 

One  of  the  most  imi)ortant  means,  therefore,  in  wliicli  the  increase  of  the 
funds  of  tiic  Board  for  a  time  is  to  be  expected,  is,  by  ditftising  ligiit  and  life 
to  a  class  of  the  christian  community,  which  has  as  yet  hardly  been  reached. 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPF.CIAL  MEETING. 


23 


Every  christian  ought  to  know  and  feel  that  he  can  do  something  in  this 
holy  cause,  if  no  more  than  the  widow,  who  cast  in  her  two  rriites.  Every 
such  person  will  fee)  a  new  interest  in  the  subject,  and  that  he  is  personally 
concerned,  and  will  in  some  way  become  more  and  more  useful. 

But  to  create  any  such  interest  as  the  Prudential  Committee  here  re- 
commend, information  as  to  the  situation  and  wants  of  the  heatlien  world 
must  be  diffused.  And  how  is  this  information  to  be  communicated?  Many 
are  even  without  a  religious  newspaper.  They  will  never  know  the  wants 
of  the  heathen,  and  seldom  have  any  enlarged  sense  of  duty,  except  such  as 
they  derive  from  their  pastors.  To  them  the  church  look  for  light  upon  this 
as  well  as  other  subjects  connected  with  their  spiritual  interest,  and  are  gen- 
erally warm  and  active  in  the  cause  or  not,  as  their  pastors  are. 

And  while  we  are  satisfied  tliat  the  most  that  has  been  accomplished  in 
this  cause  has  been  done  by  means  of  enlightened  zealous  pastors,  yet  there 
is  reason  to  fear  that  there  are  some  who  feel  themselves  too  little  interest 
in  the  cause,  or  who  are  afraid  to  disturb  their  churches  by  calling  upon  them 
to  give  to  distant  heathen. 

The  number  of  such,  we  trust,  is  few,  and  the  sums  kept  back  by  tlieir 
means  small,  compared  with  the  loss  arising  from  the  want  of  a  proper  or- 
ganization in  many  churches,  by  which  all  the  members  might  be  reached. 
Until  this  is  done  we  can  never  know  the  strength  of  the  churches,  nor  what 
can  be  effected.  It  is  by  similar  organizations  that  such  large  collections 
have  been  made  hy  some  religious  denominations  in  very  small  sums  from 
each  individual. 

To  effect  the  object  then  in  view,  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  Committee  that  no 
better  mode  can  be  taken,than  that  recommended  in  one  of  the  communications 
referred  to  us,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  every  pastor  will  endeavor,  in  such 
way  as  he  shall  judge  most  suitable,  to  see  that  every  member  of  his  church 
shall  be  informed  of  the  missionary  operations  in  the  world,  and  be  duly 
impressed  with  the  importance  of  doing  something  to  advance  the  work,  and 
thus  see  that  each  individual  shall  have  opportunity  to  give  according  to 
his  ability  to  this  holy  cause. 

By  a  complete  organization,  as  recommended  by  the  Prudential  Committee, 
many  churches  will  come  up  to  the  work  which  now  do  nothing,  and  many 
individuals  in  other  churches  will  cast  in  their  money  into  the  treasury  of 
the  Lord,  who  now  give  nothing,  except  by  accident. 

It  is  also  to  be  expected  that  additional  aid  may  be  annually  derived  from 
the  churches  formed  and  forming  in  the  west  And  if,  in  the  ensuing  sea- 
son, the  God  of  missions  shall,  as  we  hope,  visit  our  churches  with  the  effu- 
sions of  his  Holy  Spirit,  there  will  be  no  reason  to  fear,  cither  the  ability 
or  the  willingness  of  the  churches,  to  meet  the  claims  which  the  progressive 
nature  of  missions  require. 


MEMORIAL   FROM   THE   CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH  IN  GKEENWICH,  N.  Y. 

A  memorial  signed  by  the  pastor,  deacons,  and  clerk  of  the  church 
in  Grceinvich,  Washington  county,  New  York,  relating  to  receiving 
to  the  treasury  of  the  Board,  donations  from  holders  of  slaves,  and 
other  kindred  topics,  was  read  by  Dr.  Armstrong. 

On  motion  of  the  llev.  Henry  G.  Ludlow,  the  following  resolution 
was  unanimously  adopted  : 

Rc.iolvd,  That  the  mcmorinlidts  in  behalf  of  tiio  Congregational  Church  in 
Greenwich,  N.  V'.,  in  regard  to  the  relation  which  this  Board  is  supposed  to 
su^jluin  to  slavery,  be  respectfully  referred  to  the  report  on  the  same  general 


24 


MINUTES  OF  THE  SPECIAL  MEETING. 


subject,  made  by  a  select  committee  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board,  in 
September  last,  and  adopted ;  and  that,  in  view  of  that  report,  the  Board  see 
no  cause  to  take  further  action  on  the  subject  at  this  time. 


SPECIAL  THANKSGIVING  AND  PRAISE. 

The  preamble  and  the  first  and  second  of  the  resolutions  offered  by 
the  chairman  of  the  Prudential  Committee  (page  12)  having  been 
adopted,  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  Wednesday,  the  second  day  of 
the  meeting,  were  spent  in  offering  special  thanksgiving  and  praise  to 
God,  in  view  of  hi?  goodness  to  the  Board  and  the  missions,  especial- 
ly since  the  late  annual  meeting,  in  relieving  to  so  great  an  extent, 
the  embarrassment  then  existing,  occasioned  by  inadequate  pecuniary 
resources,  and  affording  such  encouragement  that  his  people  would 
sustain  the  missionary  work  in  its  onward  progress.  Prayers  were 
offered  by  the  Rev.  Drs.  Joel  Parker,  Spring,  DeWitt,  Cox,  and 
Tucker;  and  pertinent  addresses  were  made  by  a  number  of  pastors, 
mentioning  the  indications  in  their  respective  churches  of  a  livelier 
and  more  pervading  interest  in  the  work  of  evangelizing  the  world  ; 
also  by  the  Rev.  Justin  Perkins,  first  missionary  of  the  Board  to  the 
Nestorians  of  Persia;  by  Mar  Yohannan,  a  Nestorian  bishop;  Rev. 
Prof.  Goodrich,  and  Dr.  Parker,  missionary  to  China. 


PROBABILITY   OF  A   STEADY   INCREASE   OF  CONTRIBUTIONS. 

Most  of  the  day  and  evening  of  Thursday  were  occupied  in  state- 
ments and  remarks,  principally  from  pastors,  on  the  question, — 
Whct/irr  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  tlieit  the  christian  community 
will  furnish  the  means  for  that  onward  movement  of  the  system  of 
missions  in  which  the  Hoard  is  engaged,  which  the  providence  of  God 
gives  us  reason  to  crpcct  ? 

That  the  pastors  and  other  members  of  the  Board  present  from  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country  niiglit  have  ()[)|)ortunity  and  be  induced  to 
express  their  opinions  on  the  fiuestions,  tlicy  were  called  upon  by 
States.  Representatives  being  present  from  all  the  New  England 
States,  from  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Pennsylvania,  responded  to 
the  question.  Most  of  them  were  understood  to  express  the  opinion 
that  a  gradual  and  steady  increase  of  the  contributions  from  the 
christian  community  might  be  calculated  upon,  and  that  it  would  be 
safe  for  the  Board  to  conduct  its  operations  in  ex[)cctation  of  such  an 
increase.  A  number  expressed  fears  that  the  contributions  fur  some 
years  subsequent  would  not  be  so  large  as  those  which  were  likely  to 
come  into  the  treasury  the  current  year,  and  that  no  great  increase 
could  be  confidently  nnticipateil  for  some  years  to  come. 

From  all  parts  of  tiic  country  represented,  most  encouraging  evi- 
dence was  furnished  tlint  tlie  missionary  work  is  rising  in  I  lie  esti- 
mation and  in  the  affections  of  the  peojile  ofGcxl  ;  that  its  inqiortance 
and  oi)ligatoriness  are  more  fell,  and  a  more  lively  and  practical  in- 
terest in  it  is  manifested,  than  in  former  years ;  that  ministers  and 


MINUTES    OF    THE    SPECIAL  MEETING. 


25 


laymen  are  regarding  it  more  than  heretofore  as  a  business  for  which 
they  are  personally  concerned  and  accountable,  and  for  the  accom- 
plishment of  which  there  must  be  calculation  and  effort  and  self- 
denial  ;  that  the  work  must  not  be  intermitted  or  delayed,  but  is  to  be 
extended,  as  the  providence  of  God  shall  open  the  nations,  and  be 
carried  forward  with  system  and  energy  in  some  measure  consummate 
with  its  greatness  and  urgent  nature,  and  with  constant  reference  to 
its  full  accomplishment  at  no  very  distant  day. 

The  necessity  of  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  any  success- 
ful effort  for  the  universal  spread  of  the  gospel,  seemed,  to  an  unusual 
degree,  to  occupy  the  minds  of  those  who  addressed  the  Board  during 
its  sessions. 

That  revivals  of  religion  are  indispensable  to  the  vigorous  prosecu- 
tion of  the  missionary  work,  seemed  also  to  be  felt  and  appreciated  by 
all.  The  churches  which  sustain  this  cause  need  it  for  their  enlarge- 
ment and  quickening,  to  increase  their  faith  and  their  devotion  to  the 
work.  The  missionaries  and  the  mission  churches  need  it.  It  is 
needed  by  the  impenitent  and  unbelieving  at  home  and  abroad,  that 
they  may  be  raised  from  their  spiritual  death.  In  this  view  of  the 
subject  it  was  that  the  last  two  resolutions  inserted  on  page  I2th  were 
proposed  and  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Board,  that  the  friends  of 
missions  might  be  induced  to  unite  in  earnest  and  persevering  prayer 
for  such  an  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Spirit  as  should  result  in  a  great 
and  general  revival  of  religion  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

Near  the  close  of  the  statements  from  the  pastors,  the  third  resolu- 
tion on  page  I2th  was  adopted. 

The  meeting  was  continued  through  two  sessions  on  the  afternoon 
and  evening  of  Tuesday,  the  18th,  and  three  sessions  on  each  of  the 
two  following  days.  Besides  the  afternoon  and  evening  of  the  second 
day,  which  were  devoted  to  religious  services,  the  sessions  were 
opened  with  prayers  by  Rev.  Dr.  Codman,  Rev.  Messrs.  Magie, 
Barnes,  and  Walker,  Rev.  Dr.  Skinner,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Aiken  ;  and 
after  singing  the  hymn,  "Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds,"  &c.  the  meet- 
ing was  closed  with  prayer  and  the  apostolical  benediction  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Bardwell. 

After  passing  the  usual  votes  of  thanks  to  the  church  and  congre- 
gation, the  choir  of  singers,  and  the  families,  whose  hospitality  and 
aid  the  members  and  friends  of  the  Board  had  enjoyed  on  the  occa- 
sion, the  meeting  was  adjourned  at  the  close  of  the  evening  of  Thurs- 
day the  20th. 


26 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  BOARD. 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  BOARD. 

The  following  facts  are  taken  from  the  "  Historical  View  of  the 
Missions  of  the  Bo^ird,"  that  was  read  at  the  special  meeting,  but  is 
not  printed  in  this  account  of  ilie  proceedings, 

EXTENT   OF  THE   SYSTEM   OF  OPERATIONS. 

The  origin  of  the  foreign  missionary  enterprise  in  this  country  should 
never  be  forgotten.  It  was  like  the  little  cloud  seen  from  the  top  of  Carrael. 
No  fact  in  tlie  religious  history  of  the  country  is  better  authenticated,  or 
more  remarkable,  than  that,  at  the  outset,  neither  the  Board,  nor  its  Pruden- 
tial Committee,  nor  any  of  the  leading  minds  in  the  American  churches  at 
that  time,  could  see  the  way  clear  for  raising  funds  enough  to  support  the 
four  young  men,  who  were  waiting  to  be  sent  forth  to  the  heathen  world. 
And  when,  after  a  fruitless  effort  to  get  the  promise  of  pecuniary  aid  from 
England,  in  case  it  should  be  necessary,  those  men  were  sent  forth,  it  was 
without  being  designated  by  the  Committee  to  any  specific  field.  There  was 
not  then  the  hundredth  part  of  the  knowledge  of  the  heathen  world  in  the 
American  churches,  that  there  is  now,  and  the  comparative  claims  of  the  dif- 
ferent portions  of  it  was  a  subject  then  but  little  understood.  The  first  mis- 
sionaries were  left  to  decide  what  field  to  occupy  after  their  arrival  in  India. 
Their  Instructions  were  dated  February  7,  1812. 

The  number  of  missions  now  existing  under  the  care  of  this  Board  is  26. 
These  embrace  80  stations.  The  number  of  ordained  missionaries  now  in 
the  field  is  143,  and  of  lay  helpers  of  different  descriptions  45,  and  of  female 
helpers  enough  to  increase  the  number  to  392.  To  these  add  about  150 
native  helpers,  who  have  been  trained  on  the  ground  by  the  missions  and  are 
supported  by  the  funds  of  the  Board,  and  the  number  of  present  laborers 
swells  to  542. 

The  mission  schools  contain  24,500  youth,  of  whom  somewhat  more  than 
1,000  are  boarding  scholars,  in  schools  where  the  leading  object  is  to  train 
up  a  native  ministry.  Five  hundred  are  in  seminaries  designed  exclusively 
for  males,  where  the  course  of  study  is  as  extensive  as  it  can  be  while  the 
languages  of  the  several  countries  where  they  exist  are  no  better  furnished 
with  works  of  sound  literature  and  science. 

Fifteen  printing  establishments  are  at  work  in  as  many  missions,  and  in  31 
languages,  exclusive  of  the  English,  spoken  by  450,000,000  of  people. 

The  missions  are  in  western  and  southern  Africa,  Greece,  Constantinople, 
Asia  Minor,  Syria,  Koordistan,  Persia,  western  and  southern  India,  Ceylon, 
Siam,  China,  the  Indian  Archipelago,  the  Sandwich  Islands,  Oregon,  the  In- 
dian territory  west  and  northwest  of  the  United  States,  and  among  tlie  rem- 
nants of  the  Six  Nations  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie. 


PROGRESS  MADE  IN  THE  WORK. 

All  that  was  said  to  shew  the  extent  of  the  field,  is  an  indication  of  pro- 
gress made  in  the  work.  But  more  should  be  said,  to  the  praise  of  God's 
grace. 

The  whole  number  of  laborers  sent  from  this  country  during  the  past  thirty 
years,  is  77J,  or,  including  the  native  helpers  now  employed,  it  is  921.  In 
general  tlie  text-books  of  the  schools  have  been  prepared  by  the  missionaries, 
and  a  great  progress,  on  the  whole,  has  been  made  in  this  department ;  espe- 
cially in  translating  the  Scriptures,  and  in  geography,  arithmetic,  geometry, 
■acred  history,  and  the  drat  principles  of  religion  and  morals. 


MISSIONS  OF  THE  BOARD. 


27 


Scarcely  less  than  300,000,000  of  pages  have  been  printed  in  the  31  lan- 
guages ;  13  of  which  were  first  reduced  to  writing  by  the  missionaries  of  the 
Board.  Not  less  tlian  80,000  persons  have  had  portions  of  the  Bible  put  into 
their  hands,  and  been  taught  to  read  them  by  the  missionaries.  How  far 
mind  has  been  awakened  from  the  profound  listnessness  of  heathenism, 
called  off  from  sensual  and  grovelling  to  intellectual  enjoyments,  and  fur- 
nished with  the  treasures  of  science,  thought,  and  refined  christian  sentiment, 
is  known  only  to  Him  who  knowetli  all  things;  but  the  value  of  the  results 
must  be  beyond  conception  great. 

The  amount  of  printing  in  our  own  country  by  the  Board,  in  furtherance  of 
its  objects,  during  the  twenty  years  past,  is  nearly  or  quite  200,000,000  of 
pages  ; — not  including  reports,  addresses,  and  appeals  published  by  auxiliary 
societies ;  nor  upwards  of  thirty  volumes  of  biography,  missionary  history, 
travels,  researches,  etc. ;  or  more  than  twice  or  thrice  that  number,  if  we  in- 
clude books  for  Sabbath  schools;  which  have  grown  directly  out  of  its  oper- 
ations. 

Fifty-nine  churches  have  been  gathered  among  the  heathen,  containing 
nearly  20,000  members.  The  spiritual  fruits  of  the  missions  to  the  oriental 
churches,  are  of  course  not  included  in  this  number,  such  not  having  been 
gathered  into  distinct  and  separate  churches  ;  the  effort  having  been  hitherto 
to  infuse  the  spirit  of  the  gospel  into  those  religious  communities  as  they  are. 

Through  the  blessing  of  God  on  the  cheerful  and  cordial  concurrence  of 
the  community,  there  have  also  been  effected  extensive  systematic  organiza- 
tions for  diffusing  intelligence  and  raising  funds  at  home  ;  and  a  credit  has 
been  gai*ed  for  the  institution  in  the  commercial  world,  which  is  of  inesti- 
mable value  in  facilitating  the  support  of  the  missions  in  so  many  widely  re- 
mote parts  of  tlie  world. 


